Merchants Insurance Group Appoints Pete Walkup as Vice President, Head of Claims

BUFFALO, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Merchants Insurance Group has appointed Pete Walkup as its Vice President, Head of Claims, effective February 2026.

Walkup joins Merchants from Donegal Insurance, where he served as Vice President, Claims Operations since 2022. He brings more than 28 years of claims experience, most of which were in leadership positions including senior leadership roles at Kemper Insurance and State Farm Insurance.

As Vice President, Head of Claims, Walkup will oversee all claims operations, with an emphasis on operational performance, process modernization, and delivering value to policyholders.

“Pete’s depth of industry experience and proven track record of leading high-performing claims organizations make him an outstanding addition to our executive team,” said Charles E. Makey III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Merchants Insurance Group. “I am confident that his ability to develop strong teams, drive cross-functional collaboration, and align claims operations with broader strategic goals will be an asset to Merchants. His operational insight and customer-focused approach will help us further strengthen our claims function and enhance our customer experience for policyholders.”

Walkup’s appointment underscores the company’s ongoing investment in leadership talent and its commitment to advancing claims capabilities in support of long-term growth and service excellence.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t first acknowledge how fortunate I am to have the unwavering support of my family throughout my career. Their encouragement has been a constant source of strength and a meaningful contributor to my success over the years,” said Pete Walkup. “To me, joining Merchants represents the culmination of a career shaped by broad experience across stock and mutual carriers, as well as captive and independent agent distribution models and direct writers. That diversity of perspective has prepared me to help complement and advance the company’s future strategy and direction.”

Walkup holds his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Associate in Claims (AIC), and Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager (CRVPM) designations. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government at Marshall University and served in the United States Marine Forces Reserve from 1994 – 2002.

“What truly drew me to Merchants is its culture,” Walkup added. “The collaborative, supportive, and non-siloed peer relationships stood out immediately. Hearing the organization’s values – Integrity, Respect, Loyalty, Teamwork, and Aspiration to Improve – resonated deeply with me and played a significant role in my decision to pursue this opportunity.”

About Merchants Insurance Group
Founded in downtown Buffalo, New York in 1918, Merchants Insurance Group is a leading regional property and casualty insurance carrier specializing in commercial lines. Merchants partners exclusively with independent insurance agents because they have the expertise to match the company’s portfolio of quality products, and to ensure customers’ assets are properly protected. The large network of Merchants’ independent agent partners spans across Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Contacts

Katherine Trautwein, Sr. Content Marketing Specialist – ktrautwein@merchantsgroup.com