Claudia Merkle will assume day-to-day management of NMI Holdings from Bradley Shuster
NMI Holdings, the parent company of National Mortgage Insurance, has announced that Claudia Merkle has been appointed as CEO, effective January 1.
Merkle is currently president of the company. She will succeed Bradley Shuster, who has served as CEO and chairman since founding the company in April 2012. He will continue as executive chairman following the succession.
“Claudia has been with National MI from the very beginning as one of our first employees,” Shuster said. “She was instrumental in developing and leading our operations team and, more recently, has led the growth of our sales organization and established it as the model for the industry. The board and I have been working on this succession plan and a smooth transition of leadership for some time. The success that National MI enjoyed over this last year is what the board and I envisioned when we promoted Claudia to the role of president. I look forward to continuing to partner with her as my successor. I have the utmost confidence in Claudia and the entire executive team, and believe the future is bright for our employees, customers, and shareholders.”
In her new role, Merkle will be responsible for the company’s day-to-day management, financial performance, and long-term growth strategy. Upon her promotion, she will join the company’s board, increasing its size to eight members effective January 1.
Merkle joined National MI in May 2012 as senior vice president of underwriting fulfillment and risk operations. She was promoted to executive vice president and chief of insurance operations in 2013, to COO in 2016, and president in May 2018.
As executive chairman, Shuster will continue to lead the board, oversee special projects and communications with key stakeholders, and collaborate with Merkle to define the company’s long-term goals and direct its strategy, operational plans, and policies.
