Merchants Insurance Group appoints Pete Walkup as Vice President, Head of Claims
Merchants Insurance Group has appointed Pete Walkup as Vice President and Head of Claims, effective February 2026.
Walkup joins from Donegal Insurance, where he served as Vice President of Claims Operations, and brings more than 28 years of experience across claims leadership roles, including positions at Kemper and State Farm. In his new role, he will oversee claims operations with a focus on performance, modernization, and customer outcomes.
“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. 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.” – Charles E. Makey III, President and CEO of Merchants Insurance Group.
“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. 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. What truly drew me to Merchants is its culture. 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.” – Pete Walkup, Vice President and Head of Claims of Merchants Insurance Group.
