Dennis Sparks
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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Prior to Launch, Dennis was the EVP and CUO of MS Transverse, the leading Hybrid Fronting Carrier. During Dennis’ four years at MS Transverse, the portfolio grew from $100M in premiums written to greater than $2B in premiums written while consistently maintaining a gross ultimate loss ratio under fifty percent. Furthermore, MS Transverse won the Fronting Carrier of the year 2 out of 3 years. In addition to being the CEO of Launch, Dennis is a Sr. Advisor to MS Transverse.
Prior to MS Transverse, he successfully co-led Safehold Special Risk (now part of USI Insurance services), a well-known, large program administrator, where he served as Chief Underwriting Officer, Chief Actuary, and Head of carrier relationships. At the time of Dennis’s departure, Safehold Special Risk had more than $1B in written premiums under management.
Prior to joining Safehold Special Risk, Dennis was instrumental in Catlin’s efforts to launch their US platform in 2006. Dennis was responsible for overseeing the integration of the US Wellington portfolio when Catlin acquired the London Syndicate in 2007, which made Catlin, at the time, the largest Syndicate in Lloyd’s. When Dennis left Catlin US in 2010, Catlin US was more than $1B of premiums written including both insurance and reinsurance writings on domestic and Lloyd’s paper. While at Catlin, Dennis served as the Chief Actuary and Head of Ceded Reinsurance.
During Dennis’ career, he has held executive roles for nearly 30 years including positions such as Director of Actuarial (Munich Re, Alternative Markets Division), Chief Financial Officer and Chief Actuary at Maxum (a startup E&S carrier now owned by the Hartford), Chief Actuary and Head of Ceded Reinsurance (Catlin), Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Actuary (Safehold Special Risk), and Chief Underwriting Officer (MS Transverse). Dennis began his career at USF&G as an actuarial student.
He has been invited to speak at insurance industry events such as the Insurance Innovators conference and the Casualty Actuarial Society on topics including catastrophe modeling, non-traditional careers for actuaries, the delegated underwriting authority model, and “big data”. His passion is to serve and volunteers his time to family promise, an organization dedicated to helping homeless families break the cycle of poverty as well as to the youth of the parish he attends.
Erik Matson
CO-FOUNDER
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Mr. Matson is the co-founder of Transverse Insurance Group and a highly regarded senior executive within the Insurance and Financial Services Industry. With a proven track record of building and leading profitable operations in MGA-centric and program-led sectors, as well as underwriting-intensive operations, he has held senior executive roles across prominent P&C re/insurance companies. He has also gained extensive leadership experience in Specialty Insurance entities, managing operations in over 55 countries worldwide, including a multi-year role based in Europe.
He is a seasoned market strategist, skilled in manufacturing/product development, distribution, and operational management of complex and regulated businesses. Mr. Matson has a distinguished ability to design, build, and implement global business operations for insurance and related industry firms. Throughout his career, he has successfully led and coached teams, with experience managing over 2,000 employees across diverse regions.
Known for his wide-ranging industry knowledge, Mr. Matson is respected for his strong integrity, passion for learning, and demonstrated ability to apply new knowledge to enhance organizational performance. He has a verifiable ability to motivate teams and deliver results for both internal and external clients. His leadership experience is also bolstered by his background as a senior U.S. Military Officer, bringing a strategic and disciplined approach to management.
Mr. Matson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Drew University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Monmouth University.
Bob Matthaei
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
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Mr. Matthaei is the Vice President of Operations at Launch Underwriters, bringing over 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry.
Before joining Launch, he held leadership roles in insurance operations at AIG and Allianz, as well as management positions in retail banking at Fleet Bank and Chase.
Throughout his career, Mr. Matthaei has successfully built and led high-performing operations and customer service teams, both onshore and offshore.
His expertise includes the development and implementation of enterprise workflow tools, key performance indicators (KPIs), and quality programs, as well as driving process optimization and data analysis initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and service excellence.
Cynthia Tatham
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
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Ms. Tatham is a Senior Vice President at Launch Underwriters where she oversees all Finance, Compliance, and Corporate Governance matters. She brings a robust background spanning over 20 years in financial operations, compliance, and strategic management, leveraging her experience to drive operational efficiency and financial integrity.
Prior to joining Launch Underwriters, Ms. Tatham was a Partner at Paragon Outcomes Management LLC, a private investment firm focused on real estate, specialty finance, and real asset opportunities, where she most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. During her time at Paragon, she was instrumental in the development and management of the firm’s operational platform and financial infrastructure. She also played a pivotal role in designing and implementing their compliance program and collaborated closely with the firm’s CIO, CFO, and CCO on strategic initiatives.
Her foundational expertise was shaped at leading institutions, UBS Financial Services and Lehman Brothers, where she played a key role in financial operations supporting sales teams with over $1 billion in assets under management. She handled client relationships, trade execution, and monitored portfolio performance to deliver results for high-net-worth clients.
Ms. Tatham is licensed in all 50 states as a Property & Casualty and Surplus Lines Agent/Broker. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.