Kingstone Companies, Inc. has appointed Sylvie Widjaja as Vice President, California Business Leader to oversee its entry into the state's homeowners market on an excess and surplus lines basis. Widjaja, a California insurance executive with more than two decades of experience, will lead Kingstone's California operations and report to Meryl Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer. The move marks a strategic expansion for the regional property and casualty insurance holding company.

Widjaja joins Kingstone from Mercury Insurance Group, one of California's largest personal lines insurers, where she led distribution and market strategy. Her background also includes leadership roles at Travelers and Progressive, focusing on underwriting and claims. She holds a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton.

Strategic Expansion

Kingstone's entry into California aims to address capacity shifts in the market. The company writes homeowners coverage in California on a non-admitted basis and was the 11th largest writer of homeowners insurance in New York in 2025. The company delivers tailored solutions through its Select product suite.

Leadership Perspective

Meryl Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kingstone, emphasized the importance of local expertise. "California represents a meaningful opportunity, and success will depend on strong local market expertise, deep agent relationships, and disciplined execution," Golden said. Widjaja cited Kingstone's disciplined strategy and focus on independent agents as key factors in her decision to join.