Kristen Peed Named RIMS 2025 President as Society Marks 75th Year

Kristen Peed, head of corporate risk at Sequoia, has been named the 2025 president of RIMS, the risk management society. Effective January 1, her leadership coincides with RIMS' 75th anniversary.

At Sequoia, a human resources technology platform based in San Mateo, California, Ms. Peed oversees corporate insurance placement, claims management, and risk mitigation strategies. A recognized leader in the captive insurance field, she was named one of the "Top 20 Captive Owners" in 2024 by Captive Review and has been nominated to join the International Center for Captive Insurance Education Board of Directors.

Ms. Peed highlighted the evolving challenges in risk management, stating, "Each day risk professionals awake to a whirlwind of new and evolving risks. While the world flinches at that uncertainty, risk professionals must continue to fearlessly march toward it, focus on elevating their skills and programs, and position themselves to drive innovation and boost business resilience." She emphasized her commitment to ensuring RIMS delivers insights and networking opportunities that foster growth in the risk management community.

Ms. Peed's career spans over 2 decades in the insurance industry. Before joining Sequoia, she held leadership roles at CBIZ, Swagelok, and STERIS Corporation, and began her career as a commercial lines broker at BB&T and Oswald Companies. Her accolades include being named a Business Insurance Woman To Watch in 2016. Ms. Peed holds several professional designations, including RIMS—Certified Risk Management Professional, Associate in Claims, Associate in Risk Management—Enterprise Risk Management, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Certified Risk Manager, and Registered Professional Liability Underwriter, and earned a bachelor's degree in industrial relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

RIMS also announced its 2025 officers and board of directors. Joining Ms. Peed are the following.

• Vice President: Manuel Padilla, vice president of risk management and insurance at MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated
• Treasurer: Christy Kaufman, vice president of P&C risk and compliance at USAA
• Secretary: Penni Chambers, vice president of risk management at Hillwood, a Perot company

New board members include Carnell Jones, risk manager at Trinitas Ventures LLC, and Ondrea Matthews, senior director of risk management and benefits at CoorsTek, LLC. They join a roster of incumbent directors representing diverse industries, including technology, manufacturing, and retail.

Ms. Peed's appointment and RIMS' leadership transitions come at a pivotal moment, aligning with the organization's milestone anniversary and ongoing mission to empower risk management professionals worldwide.

Photo of Ms. Peed is courtesy of RIMS.