Each day, we will profile an innovative leader who was selected for the 2026 edition of Az Business Leaders magazine. Today, meet Marc Schmittlein, CEO and executive chair of CopperPoint.
Marc Schmittlein, CopperPoint
Background: Schmittlein joined the company as CEO in 2016, bringing more than 30 years of commercial insurance experience. Under his leadership, CopperPoint has been on a journey of transformation toward its vision of becoming a leading regional commercial insurance company for the United States. Through two acquisitions, the company has grown its footprint and built an increasingly diversified platform of capabilities, creating opportunity for employees as well as partners and policyholders.
Upcoming challenge: “The pace of consolidation across the insurance industry remains high, and CopperPoint’s independent agency distribution network is very much part of this trend. As our sales channels increasingly consolidate into a smaller group of brokers and venture capital-backed firms, it becomes critical that we strengthen our relationships with these aggregators. Doing so will help ensure we remain competitive against both large national and regional carriers. Our operating model is designed with this evolving landscape in mind. As a nimble regional carrier, we must take a proactive, hands-on approach – particularly at the executive level – to refine and reinforce our value proposition. This will continue to position CopperPoint as an essential partner within our distributors’ portfolios.”
Leadership lesson: “I learned long ago that the true success of a leader begins with being confident in “your own skin.” It’s about recognizing your strengths while also acknowledging where others may bring greater expertise. The most successful leaders surround themselves with the best and brightest talent and foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively encouraged. Building a leadership team with varied backgrounds and experiences helps illuminate blind spots and uncover potential risks. It also opens the door to innovative thinking and bold ideas. While the final decision may rest with you as the leader, the strength of that decision lies in the collaborative process that shaped it. When every voice is heard and considered, the team stands united, no matter the outcome.”
Surprising fact: “I am, at my roots, a very solitary person who thrives on alone time to think, recharge and be creative. This inner drive has forged my passion for big game hunting – not for the animal stalk itself, but for the solitude and clarity that come from being immersed in remote, untamed landscapes. Hunting in desolate regions and tackling physical hardships, often with only a guide, is an enlightening experience. That solitude is essential to my mental health and the spark behind some of my most creative thinking.”
