Nationwide SVP Sarah Griffin Drives Innovation in Personal Lines Insurance
Sarah Griffin, Senior Vice President of Product & Underwriting at Nationwide, is leading a shift in the personal lines insurance sector towards a proactive, value-driven customer experience. Her approach redefines the traditional insurance promise from simply covering losses to partnering in loss prevention and ongoing protection. Managing a broad portfolio covering auto, property, and powersports, Griffin emphasizes disciplined underwriting, innovative tech adoption, and empowering agents with actionable insights to meet evolving customer demands. Griffin's leadership has spearheaded growth in Nationwide's telematics and smart home programs, significantly expanding customer engagement and retention. Under her guidance, the smart home program now contributes notably to new business, with devices like Ting and LeakBot offered complimentary to policyholders. These technologies monitor electrical system anomalies and water leaks, respectively, providing notifications and facilitating repairs, thereby enhancing risk prevention and customer peace of mind. Further initiatives include the Focused Driving Rewards app, which promotes safer driving habits among users, rewarding them for reducing distractions and contributing to overall road safety. Such programs align with Griffin's vision of embedding risk mitigation into the insurance offering, translating into better outcomes for both customers and the carrier. Griffin's strategic focus on product innovation, data-driven underwriting, and cross-departmental collaboration has driven record profitability in Nationwide's personal lines business. She aims to significantly increase the adoption of smart home risk-prevention devices in the coming years, reinforcing a customer-centric, preventive insurance model. Beyond her professional achievements, Griffin supports community initiatives related to shelter and safety, reflecting the foundational role these elements play in the health and well-being of families. Her work exemplifies the integration of technology and customer engagement to transform personal lines insurance through forward-looking risk management and product development.