Our Leadership Team

Richard Kerr is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of MarketScout Corporation, a Dallas, Texas-based insurance distribution and underwriting company, and Chairman of MSW (MarketScout Wholesale). He is now the Chief Executive Officer for Novatae.

Mr. Kerr previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lambert Fenchurch US Holdings, Chairman of Sedgwick Energy, President of Sedgwick James of Texas, and was a partner with Arthur L. Owen insurance. Richard has an extensive background in launching new ventures and entrepreneurial concepts in all facets of insurance underwriting and distribution. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and lecturer on industry economic trends, pricing, distribution, and underwriting concepts. Richard participates in various forums during the year. As an author, he has written two technical insurance publications, as well as articles for over 20 different insurance publications. His monthly Market Barometer is published by over fifteen insurance trade journals and various other business publications including The Wall Street Journal.

Richard is an Executive Council member of the Risk Management & Insurance Executive Council Advisory Board of the Florida State University College of Business and serves as a board member for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He founded the Kerr Educational Trust and HEROES, a support organization for soldiers returning from active duty. Richard holds a Business degree in insurance and risk management from the University of Texas in Austin and various postgraduate designations.

Von comes to Novatae with more than 35 years of leadership experience in the insurance industry across executive management, agency operations and administration, mergers and acquisitions, regional and national sales management, and business development and marketing. He previously served as board member and committee chair for the Independent Insurance Agents of Dallas, is an active member of the Independent Agents of Texas, and is currently on the board of advisors at the University of Texas at Dallas Business School, Risk Management Insurance Department.

Jim is a global finance leader and business partner with a track record of driving profitable growth while delivering productivity and continual process improvement. 

Jim has held leadership positions in finance, accounting and operations with worldwide companies; PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Siemens AG and Lennox International Inc.

His education includes Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Bachelor of Commerce degree and Bachelor of Science degree. Jim is the former board member of a non-profit housing corporation and the Commercial de Mexico business.

Chris Kerr is an experienced Insurance executive with over 18 years of experience in the insurance Industry.  He specializes in Workers Compensation insurance helping agents nationwide place coverage. Prior to joining Novatae he lead the work comp department of MarketScout and lead the marketing and sales team.
Chris also serves on the CIC board for the National Alliance.
Chris holds a Master of Business Administration  (MBA) and has been a CISR since 2006 and CIC since 2010.

Tim Palmer leads our Workers Compensation division. He has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, with the last 8 years spent exclusively brokering Workers Compensation. He brings experience from Fortune 100 organizations, private equity funded startup ventures, and successful privately held companies. Tim graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Finance.

Christopher began working as a broker in the Lloyds of London marketplace in 1986. He held senior positions with a number of large brokerage firms as well as being a founding partner of two start up brokerage firms before relocating to the US in 2017. He manages the Novatae London relationships and works specifically on "hard to place" high value home accounts utilizing the London marketplace as well as E & S capacity here in the US.

Daniel Ginden started out in retail insurance 20 years ago and gradually made his way to the MGA/wholesale space, where he concentrates on building relationships at Novatae.

Ginden refers to himself as "chief everything officer," stressing that no task is too big or too small for him to help with. "Many of [my employees] I have known for 10-plus years, some 20-plus years – before we got into the insurance industry," he says. "When they are winning, that pushes me to work even harder so they can sustain the life they dreamed of and take on any challenge life may throw at them head-on."

As Chief Everything Officer, Ginden has helped Novatae gain control of niche construction products. He has also expanded the Latin Agents Association into northern Florida and other US states. He is a member of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents’ Young Agents Council and has been recognized as an expert witness for insurance agencies and brokers on professional liability claims. He has also been a top 30 producer at W.R. Berkley, and a member of the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies’ E&O panel and is a National Board Director.

Daniel is an Elite Level Powerlifter, Highland Games Competitor, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner.  He also coaches his sons, Judah and Maddox, sports teams, enjoys spending time with his wife Justine, and napping with his bulldogs, Rosie and Lola.

Daniel started his insurance carrier in 2005. Before joining Novatae, Daniel managed MarketScout's wholesale broker division and led Program development. During his 18-year career, he has focused on providing solutions for oil and gas-related risk, construction, product-driven accounts, and environmental risk.  Daniel has an MBA from the University of Texas at El Paso and holds a CIC and CISR designation.

Although he says "dude" more than any one person should, don’t be deceived about Josh’s approach or ability to craft a policy to meet a client’s needs. He is an insurance nerd, often found late at night reviewing insurance forms, regulations, and quotes. Underwriting and providing superior service are things he is passionate about. His wife is an insurance nerd too, so you can count on exciting conversations around their dinner table.

Steve spent 8 years working as a commercial lines underwriter for another wholesaler. He thinks underwriting is nothing like brain surgery. So, as you can tell he does like to state the obvious at times. He claims to have the nicest hair in the insurance industry and sometimes thinks he plays guitar for an 80s rock band. In his free time, he likes to coach youth basketball and play softball. His players and teammates think he should keep his day job.