Kingstone appoints Sylvie Widjaja to lead California business

Kingstone Insurance  named Sylvie Widjaja Vice President, California Business Leader, to lead its entry into the state’s homeowners market on an excess and surplus lines basis.

Widjaja will run California operations through KINS Insurance Agency, Kingstone’s wholly owned E&S broker subsidiary, reporting to President and CEO Meryl Golden.

She joins from Mercury Insurance, where she led distribution and market strategy across personal and commercial lines. Her background includes leadership roles at Travelers and Progressive in underwriting and claims. She holds a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton.

“California represents a meaningful opportunity, and success will depend on strong local market expertise, deep agent relationships, and disciplined execution. Sylvie brings a proven track record of leading in the California market through one of its most challenging periods, along with the local insight, operating rigor, and commitment to the independent agency channel needed to navigate its complexity. She is the right leader to establish a profitable California business for Kingstone over the long term.” – Meryl Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingstone.

Kingstone was the 11th largest writer of homeowners insurance in New York in 2025 and writes California coverage on a non-admitted basis.