Hippo hires tech-focused claims executive

Palo Alto, Calif.-based home protection insurance group Hippo has hired Keith Simard as vice president of property claims.

In his new role at Hippo, he will lead and manage Hippo’s property claims teams and work with Grace Hanson, chief claims officer, to deliver a personalized claims experience to customers.

Simard joins Hippo after 10 years at American Family Enterprise, where he most recently served as associate vice president, property field and catastrophe claims. 

“Keith is a subject matter expert in claims strategy and brings both operational know-how and technical prowess to Hippo,” said Hanson in a statement. “He has a strong track record of successfully implementing cutting-edge technologies at scale and deploying field teams to support the claims function.”

Hippo’s services center on a technology-enabled platform that aims to be as responsive as possible to customers.

“Hippo is transforming the insurance industry, supporting customers by keeping small things from becoming large issues, and providing exceptional customer service when a homeowner experiences a loss,” said Simard, in a statement. “I am excited to join a company taking such a unique approach to insurance, and by the opportunity to modernize Hippo’s claims capabilities and further enhance the customer experience.”