SPG Taps Veteran Todd Miles to Lead Ambitious Life & Annuity Consolidation

CHICAGO, IL – January 21, 2026 – Specialty Program Group LLC (SPG), a leading specialty insurance platform, is making a significant strategic move to fortify its position in the life and annuity sector, appointing industry veteran Todd Miles, CFP, as the new Chief Sales Officer of its Life & Annuity Division. The appointment, effective January 5, 2026, signals an aggressive push to unify and expand its capabilities in a competitive market.

Miles is now charged with leading the sales strategy and execution for the division, a role that places him at the center of SPG’s ambitious plan to integrate three of its key businesses: AgencyONE, Brokers' Service Marketing Group (BSMG), and Business Underwriters Associates (BUA). This consolidation is designed to create a single, formidable platform that enhances service, deepens advisor relationships, and drives long-term growth.

Architecting a New Insurance Powerhouse

The appointment of Todd Miles is a cornerstone of SPG’s broader strategy to build out a cohesive and powerful Life & Annuity division. The planned consolidation of AgencyONE, BSMG, and BUA, expected to be formalized in March 2026, represents a significant structural evolution for the Chicago-based specialty platform. By bringing these distinct entities under one operational umbrella, SPG aims to create powerful synergies, streamline processes, and offer a more comprehensive suite of products and services to its network of financial advisors and distribution partners.

This strategic integration is intended to leverage the unique strengths of each firm while creating a more robust and scalable platform. The move reflects a growing trend in the insurance distribution space, where scale, technological efficiency, and specialized expertise are becoming critical differentiators. Jason Lea, the CEO of BSMG who also leads the newly forming SPG Life & Annuity division, emphasized the strategic importance of this hire.

"Todd is a proven sales leader with deep industry relationships and a strong track record of building and developing high-impact teams," said Lea. "As we continue to build our life insurance platform, Todd brings the experience, leadership presence, and vision we need to support advisors and drive sustainable growth." His statement underscores the belief that Miles’s leadership is the catalyst needed to successfully execute the division's complex integration and ambitious growth targets.

A Veteran's Playbook for Strategic Growth

Miles brings a formidable resume to SPG, with over 25 years of dedicated experience in life insurance wholesaling and sales leadership. His career path demonstrates a consistent pattern of driving sales and managing high-performing teams at some of the industry's most recognized institutions. Most recently, he concluded a distinguished tenure of over a decade at John Hancock, where he held senior leadership positions including Director of Regional Sales and Regional Vice President. In these roles, he was instrumental in leading successful sales teams across multiple U.S. regions, building a reputation for effective strategy and execution.

His professional history, documented through industry registrations, paints a picture of a career built on a solid foundation within major financial services firms. His time at John Hancock Distributors spanned from March 2010 to November 2025. Before that, he held roles at MetLife Investors Distribution Company from 2006 to 2010 and Travelers Insurance-affiliated Tower Square Securities from 2001 to 2006. His career began in the late 1990s at Fidelity Brokerage Services, giving him a comprehensive perspective on the financial services landscape.

This extensive background makes him uniquely suited for the task at hand: unifying disparate sales cultures and strategies into a single, high-impact force. His experience is not just in sales, but in the architectural work of building and scaling sales organizations, a critical skill set for SPG at this pivotal moment.

Building a Multi-Faceted Leadership Team

The strategic build-out of the Life & Annuity division extends beyond sales leadership. In a parallel move announced in December 2025, SPG also appointed Gonzalo M. Garcia, CLU, to the newly created role of Chief Advanced Markets Officer for the division. Garcia, who also reports to Jason Lea, is tasked with leading advanced markets strategy and focusing on large-case life insurance initiatives.

This dual appointment of Miles and Garcia reveals a sophisticated, multi-pronged strategy. While Miles will focus on driving sales execution and distribution relationships, Garcia will provide the deep technical expertise required for complex, high-net-worth cases. This structure ensures the new division is equipped not only to sell but also to provide best-in-class solutions and advanced planning support to top-tier advisors.

Lea described Garcia as a "universally respected leader" with over 35 years of experience, highlighting his expertise as vital for driving value and building out advanced capabilities. By investing in both sales and advanced markets leadership simultaneously, SPG is signaling its intent to compete at the highest levels of the life and annuity market, catering to a wide spectrum of advisor and client needs.

Empowering Advisors in a Dynamic Market

Ultimately, the success of SPG's strategy hinges on its ability to deliver enhanced value to its core constituency: financial advisors and distribution partners. The consolidation and new leadership are explicitly aimed at revolutionizing the support structure for these partners. In his own words, Miles expressed his enthusiasm for this mission.

"I'm excited to join SPG at a pivotal time for the organization," Miles stated. "SPG has built a strong foundation across its life and annuity businesses, and I'm looking forward to partnering with the team to support advisors, strengthen relationships, and help shape the next phase of growth."

For advisors, a unified SPG Life & Annuity platform promises a more streamlined experience, with access to a broader array of resources, technologies, and specialized expertise through a single point of contact. This move is designed to reduce friction and empower advisors to serve their clients more effectively. As the industry continues to evolve, platforms that can provide comprehensive support, from basic term life cases to complex estate planning strategies, are positioned to become indispensable partners. SPG's recent moves demonstrate a clear commitment to becoming that indispensable partner for life and annuity professionals across the country.