Hudson Crop Leadership
Chris Gallagher
President
Christopher L. Gallagher, President of Hudson Crop Insurance Services, Inc., has also been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Insurance Group since April 2009. Chris joined Hudson from Chubb Re in November 2002 as Chief Underwriting Officer.
Prior to Chubb Re, he was Chief Underwriting Officer at Sirius American Insurance Company. Chris began his career in reinsurance in 1986 and assumed positions of increasing responsibility at New Zealand Reinsurance and the Reinsurance Corp of NY (RECO). He also managed the General Casualty treaty team at Transatlantic Re where he was responsible for Auto, General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Umbrella and Clash business.
Christopher L. Gallagher, President of Hudson Crop Insurance Services, Inc., has also been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Insurance Group since April 2009. Chris joined Hudson from Chubb Re in November 2002 as Chief Underwriting Officer.
Prior to Chubb Re, he was Chief Underwriting Officer at Sirius American Insurance Company. Chris began his career in reinsurance in 1986 and assumed positions of increasing responsibility at New Zealand Reinsurance and the Reinsurance Corp of NY (RECO). He also managed the General Casualty treaty team at Transatlantic Re where he was responsible for Auto, General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, Umbrella and Clash business.
Andre Virgilio
Senior Advisor, Crop & Livestock
Andre Virgilio brings over two decades of experience in the crop insurance industry to his role as Head of Livestock Underwriting. With a career spanning 23 years, Andre has developed deep expertise across both agency and company (AIP) operations. He spent his first 10 years on the agency side of the desk, gaining hands-on insight into client needs and field-level operations.
Since joining Hudson 13 years ago, Andre has held several key leadership roles. He served as Director of IT & Private Products for five years, followed by six years as Vice President of Operations, where he led strategic initiatives to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
For the past two years, he has led the Livestock Team, driving innovation and setting a new benchmark for excellence — raising the bar and leading the charge across the industry.
Andre Virgilio brings over two decades of experience in the crop insurance industry to his role as Head of Livestock Underwriting. With a career spanning 23 years, Andre has developed deep expertise across both agency and company (AIP) operations. He spent his first 10 years on the agency side of the desk, gaining hands-on insight into client needs and field-level operations.
Since joining Hudson 13 years ago, Andre has held several key leadership roles. He served as Director of IT & Private Products for five years, followed by six years as Vice President of Operations, where he led strategic initiatives to enhance efficiency and service delivery.
For the past two years, he has led the Livestock Team, driving innovation and setting a new benchmark for excellence — raising the bar and leading the charge across the industry.
David Harvey
Senior Advisor, Operations and Planning
With a career spanning over four decades, David Harvey has led transformative roles in reinsurance, hedge fund management and startup operations across global markets. He began as a reinsurance broker for all lines of business, opening international offices in Copenhagen and Mexico City before specializing in reinsurance underwriting with Hartford Re, Finite and Financial Reinsurance. He then spent fifteen years as president of two hedge funds, overseeing trading, compliance and investor relations.
Following this, he served as an operating partner for startups in New York, San Francisco and Huntsville, aligning strategy and execution to drive scalable growth. In 2025, he joined Hudson Crop, bringing deep financial insight to agricultural risk management. His career reflects a rare ability to navigate complex industries, build cross-functional teams and lead with clarity across diverse business landscapes.
With a career spanning over four decades, David Harvey has led transformative roles in reinsurance, hedge fund management and startup operations across global markets. He began as a reinsurance broker for all lines of business, opening international offices in Copenhagen and Mexico City before specializing in reinsurance underwriting with Hartford Re, Finite and Financial Reinsurance. He then spent fifteen years as president of two hedge funds, overseeing trading, compliance and investor relations.
Following this, he served as an operating partner for startups in New York, San Francisco and Huntsville, aligning strategy and execution to drive scalable growth. In 2025, he joined Hudson Crop, bringing deep financial insight to agricultural risk management. His career reflects a rare ability to navigate complex industries, build cross-functional teams and lead with clarity across diverse business landscapes.
Shelley Simonsen
Head of Operations & Private Products
Shelley Simonsen is the Head of Operations & Private Products at Hudson Insurance Group, leading a broad range of departments including Crop Policy Processing (Underwriting), Error Resolution, Education & Licensing, Marketing Communication and Private Products. She brings over 25 years of experience across insurance operations, training and business management. Since joining Hudson, she has held several key roles including Agency Services Manager and Operations Manager, where she led initiatives to streamline underwriting, accounting and licensing functions.
Prior to Hudson, Shelley founded and led a professional training and development firm. She also spent over a decade at ProAg, where she served as Training Manager and Claims Training Specialist, building a strong foundation in insurance education and claims operations.
Shelley Simonsen is the Head of Operations & Private Products at Hudson Insurance Group, leading a broad range of departments including Crop Policy Processing (Underwriting), Error Resolution, Education & Licensing, Marketing Communication and Private Products. She brings over 25 years of experience across insurance operations, training and business management. Since joining Hudson, she has held several key roles including Agency Services Manager and Operations Manager, where she led initiatives to streamline underwriting, accounting and licensing functions.
Prior to Hudson, Shelley founded and led a professional training and development firm. She also spent over a decade at ProAg, where she served as Training Manager and Claims Training Specialist, building a strong foundation in insurance education and claims operations.
Andy Melton
Head of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Andy serves as the Head of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, bringing over a decade of experience in crop insurance compliance. He began his Hudson career as a Contract Compliance Reviewer and later became National Compliance Manager in 2015, overseeing the quality control process, gaining exposure to a diversity of compliance issues and working closely with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) on case files, investigations and inspections nationwide. After gaining underwriting experience in 2023, Andy returned to the compliance team in March 2025, focusing on supporting organizational integrity and compliance with industry standards.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lubbock Christian University and completed seminary training, combining technical expertise with values-driven leadership. Andy promotes a culture grounded in transparency, ethical practices and doing things right.
Andy serves as the Head of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, bringing over a decade of experience in crop insurance compliance. He began his Hudson career as a Contract Compliance Reviewer and later became National Compliance Manager in 2015, overseeing the quality control process, gaining exposure to a diversity of compliance issues and working closely with the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) on case files, investigations and inspections nationwide. After gaining underwriting experience in 2023, Andy returned to the compliance team in March 2025, focusing on supporting organizational integrity and compliance with industry standards.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Lubbock Christian University and completed seminary training, combining technical expertise with values-driven leadership. Andy promotes a culture grounded in transparency, ethical practices and doing things right.
Rob Young
National Claims Manager
Rob Young brings over 30 years of experience in the crop insurance industry, beginning his career in 1994 as a contract adjuster while simultaneously managing a cattle farm in central Kentucky. His deep-rooted understanding of agriculture and insurance has shaped a career marked by roles in Claims Processing, Compliance and Claims Management.
Throughout his tenure, Rob has played a pivotal role in building and guiding high-performing claims departments known for their accuracy, timeliness and exceptional service. For the past nine years, he has served as National Claims Manager at Hudson Crop, where he continues to lead strategic initiatives to enhance claims operations and navigate the complexities of each claims season, playing an instrumental role in fostering farmer trust and satisfaction.
Rob Young brings over 30 years of experience in the crop insurance industry, beginning his career in 1994 as a contract adjuster while simultaneously managing a cattle farm in central Kentucky. His deep-rooted understanding of agriculture and insurance has shaped a career marked by roles in Claims Processing, Compliance and Claims Management.
Throughout his tenure, Rob has played a pivotal role in building and guiding high-performing claims departments known for their accuracy, timeliness and exceptional service. For the past nine years, he has served as National Claims Manager at Hudson Crop, where he continues to lead strategic initiatives to enhance claims operations and navigate the complexities of each claims season, playing an instrumental role in fostering farmer trust and satisfaction.
German Mendoza
Chief Information Officer
With 27 years of experience in the crop insurance industry, German Mendoza serves as Chief Information Officer, where he leads enterprise-wide technology strategy, innovation and digital infrastructure. His career spans key IT roles at RCIS and ProAg, where he advanced from a data-focused software developer into a seasoned IT executive before joining Hudson.
Throughout his tenure, German has remained deeply rooted in information technology, driving solutions that enhance operational performance and enable smarter decision-making. His leadership reflects a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities and a commitment to delivering scalable, secure and forward-looking systems that support both internal efficiency and long-term business growth.
With 27 years of experience in the crop insurance industry, German Mendoza serves as Chief Information Officer, where he leads enterprise-wide technology strategy, innovation and digital infrastructure. His career spans key IT roles at RCIS and ProAg, where he advanced from a data-focused software developer into a seasoned IT executive before joining Hudson.
Throughout his tenure, German has remained deeply rooted in information technology, driving solutions that enhance operational performance and enable smarter decision-making. His leadership reflects a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities and a commitment to delivering scalable, secure and forward-looking systems that support both internal efficiency and long-term business growth.