Alliant Insurance Services Appoints Cheryl Blake as Senior Vice President of Employee Benefits Group

Victor Insurance has appointed Mark Damico as President and COO of Torrent Technologies, a flood insurance technology and services business. Damico will oversee Torrent's integrated business software platforms and customer-focused services. He succeeds Kevin Tobin, who is retiring after 35 years in the industry. Alliant Insurance Services has hired Cheryl Blake as SVP within its employee benefits group, bringing expertise in benefits strategy, global compliance, and HR technology integration.

Victor Insurance, a leading global managing general underwriter (MGU) and a business of Marsh, has appointed Mark Damico as President and Chief Operating Officer of Torrent Technologies, its flood insurance technology and services business in the US. The appointment is effective July 31, 2025, succeeding Kevin Tobin, who is retiring after over 35 years of service in the industry [1].

Damico will be responsible for overseeing Torrent’s integrated suite of business software platforms and customer-focused service and support solutions. These solutions support insurance providers offering the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as "Write Your Own" (WYO) carriers and a growing suite of private flood insurance options to homeowners and businesses across the United States [2]. Additionally, Damico will retain his current role as COO, leading business operations and product development to drive sustainable growth for the company. He will report to Charles Williamson, CEO of Victor [1].

Damico brings over 30 years of industry and leadership experience to the role. Prior to joining Torrent as COO in 2018, he was an entrepreneur establishing business ventures in the midwestern US. Before that, he served as President and CEO of StoneRiver and held various leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility at Fiserv, including Group President [1].

Alliant Insurance Services has also expanded its employee benefits group by hiring Cheryl Blake as Senior Vice President. Blake joins Alliant with specialized expertise in benefits strategy, global compliance, and HR technology integration. She will work with clients nationwide to design and deliver tailored, cost-effective solutions that drive operational efficiency and business growth [3].

Blake’s experience includes advising small to mid-sized employers across all 50 states and helping foreign-owned companies establish operations in the US. She provides strategic counsel on PEO structures, 401(k) design, and insurance compliance, while also negotiating with global carriers and integrating HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems to enhance compliance and efficiency [3].

References
1. Victor Insurance. (2025). Victor appoints Mark Damico president of Torrent Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.victorinsurance.com/ca/en/about/media-center/victor-appoints-mark-damico-president-of-torrent0.html
2. Reuters. (2025). Victor names Damico president of Torrent Technologies as Tobin retires. Retrieved from https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L6N3T60SK:0-victor-names-damico-president-of-torrent-technologies-as-tobin-retires/
3. Alliant Insurance Services. (2025). Alliant Insurance Services expands benefits talent with addition of Cheryl Blake. Retrieved from https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20250709448889/alliant-insurance-services-expands-benefits-talent-with-addition-of-cheryl-blake