Mr. Nichols is an innovative leader with substantial expertise in growing and transforming companies that have strong regulatory oversight. An accomplished insurance and reinsurance executive, Jay has more than four decades of experience in corporate strategy, operations and finance. Most recently, Nichols served as Chairman of the Board and Interim CEO – by request of the board – at Protective Insurance Company, where he oversaw the acquisition of the company by Progressive Insurance Company. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Axis Reinsurance Ltd. Before this, Nichols spent 15 years at RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd, eventually serving as President of RenaissanceRe Ventures. After having joined as the Controller in 1995, Mr. Nichols spearheaded the company’s growth via strategic acquisitions and accessing third party capital through joint ventures. He also previously held senior executive and financial reporting positions at Hartford Steam Boiler and Monarch Life Insurance Company, and at the leading international forensic accounting firm, Matson, Driscoll & Damico.