IBANY’s Annual Holiday Breakfast

(Pictured above: Aileen Marchese with IBANY President Rubin Alspector of Marsh & McLennan)

 

The Insurance Brokers’ Association of New York (IBANY) held its annual Holiday Breakfast on December 8 at the Down Town Association in New York City. IBANY’s guest speaker was Mike McGavick, CEO of XL Group, PC, the parent of XL Catlin. The morning also featured the presentation of the 2015 IBANY Insurance Person of the Year award to Aileen Marchese of Ironshore, Inc. Breakfast sponsors were Ironshore and NSM Insurance Group.

Mr. McGavick, named CEO of XL Group in 2008, also chairs the Geneva Association and is a director and immediate past chair of the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers, and serves on the boards of Global Reinsurance Forum, American Insurance Association, Insurance Information Institute and International Insurance Society. He previously served in senior leadership at Safeco Corporation and CNA Financial Corporation.

Mr. McGavick told attendees that they are living in “a world of wild risk.” He said, “This is a moment of historic proportions when the industry will make a huge difference. But with risk, there also needs to be change, making it imperative that we keep pace.” Mr. McGavick went on to name what he believes are the top five trends affecting the industry now and in 2016: Globalization, Analytics, Community Consolidation, Availability of Alternative Capital and Regulation.

The IBANY Insurance Person of the Year award was created in 2012 to recognize annually “one individual whose dedication and commitment to the insurance industry are clearly exceptional, and who has helped others in the industry and greater community.” Nominations are open and the winner is determined by the board of directors. Past recipients are Dan Mahar of ELANY, Andy Potash of Distinguished Programs, and Sean McPhillips of CapSpecialty.

In presenting this year’s award to Aileen Marchese, IBANY Awards Committee Chair Renee McFadden of Distinguished Programs stressed the strong role that Ms. Marchese has played as a professional mentor. In addition to her duties as a senior vice president and zonal executive of the Northeast Region for Ironshore, Ms. Marchese works as a coach and mentor to members of Ironshore’s Executive Advisory Group. In her 30 years in insurance industry management, she has been a strong advocate for training, development, and mentoring and served on the Executive Steering Committee of the NY Women Alliance and the emerging leaders program at AIG.

Prior to joining Ironshore, Ms. Marchese served for nine years as a senior vice president within AIG, as assistant vice president and national practice leader for the Financial Products Group within The Hartford, and as a vice president for Kemper Insurance Company.

Ms. Marchese has served for three years as chair of IBANY’s Program Committee. She is also affiliated with PLUS, APIW and NAIW.

Outside of her professional realm, Aileen shares her gifts with Junior Achievement, American Heart Association and Relay for Life. During the past three years she has served as the president of the Commack High School Softball Booster Club, which, through fundraising efforts, has awarded $6,500 in scholarships to players and purchased new uniforms for the team.

IBANY’s membership includes broker and associate members of all ages and ranges of experience coming together for industry advocacy, networking and professional development. The association serves as a voice for the industry and market, hosts professional development programs, provides opportunities for network building and interaction between the brokerage and underwriting communities, and promotes the insurance industry as a career of choice. IBANY’s next program will be held at the Down Town Association on Wednesday, January 20 at 8:30 a.m. “A Preview of the 2016 State Political and Regulatory Landscape for the P&C Industry,” will feature speaker Bob DiUbaldo, ACE Group Senior VP & Counsel for State Government & Industry Affairs.

For more information about the program or membership in IBANY, visit www.ibany.org or call 212-509-1592.