The Jacobson Group Finds CEO for Mutual Reinsurance Bureau

October 23, 2017 – The Jacobson Group, a Chicago-based executive search firm, has placed John W. Meyers as president and CEO of Mutual Reinsurance Bureau (MRB) in Cherry Valley, IL. He succeeds Timothy Dorr who retires next year from the reinsurance association. The search was headed by Margaret Resce Milkint, managing partner, who oversees engagements across all insurance industry verticals as part of Jacobson’s executive search practice.
“John’s appointment as president and CEO marks an exciting new chapter in MRB’s history and growth agenda,” said Ms. Resce Milkint. “He embodies the deep industry know-how, mutual company values and servant leadership style that have been hallmarks of MRB’s success.”
Susan Haack, chair of the MRB board of directors and the search committee, said Mr. Meyers demonstrates a unique combination of relationship-building and underwriting skills that are invaluable to MRB’s clients. “His vision for the future of MRB is an exciting one, and we expect our current and future clients and business partners will benefit greatly,” she said. “John and the MRB team will continue to build on our rich legacy and respected brand in the mutual insurance community.”
Outgoing CEO Dorr was pleased with the choice as well. “I am delighted that John has agreed to join us and lead MRB into our second century of providing the best in security and service to our clients,” he said. “I look forward to working closely with him in the coming months as we execute a smooth and seamless transition.”
Experienced Leader
Mr. Meyers previously served as vice president of treaty underwriting at Safety National Reinsurance. He brings more than 25 years of insurance industry underwriting experience, with recent tenures at Maiden Reinsurance and PMA Reinsurance. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, where he earned the Army commendation medal for management and motivational skills. He has also been an associate adjunct professor at Olivet College.
Hunt Scanlon Top 50 Recruiters
Hunt Scanlon presents the 50 top U.S./Americas search firms — ranging from the largest recruiting and talent leadership solutions providers to the leading boutique specialists that dominate the list this year.
Top 50 |
Established in 1921, Mutual Reinsurance Bureau reinsures many diverse insurance companies across the United States.
The Jacobson Group provides executive search services exclusively to the insurance sector. For 45 years, the firm has been connecting insurance organizations with professionals from the board room to the back room on both a permanent and temporary basis.
Insurance Sector Surging
According to the latest U.S. insurance labor market study conducted by the Jacobson Group and Ward Group, 65 percent of companies polled intend to increase staff in 2017. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the unemployment rate for the insurance industry is at 3.3 percent, which remains significantly lower than the national average.
“Expected increases in business volume and expansion into new markets are driving continued hiring,” said Gregory P. Jacobson, co-chief executive officer of the Jacobson Group. “This organizational growth, coupled with a shallow talent pool and virtually non-existent industry unemployment, results in an increasingly competitive labor market.”
The study found that openings remain moderately difficult to fill and recruiting is slightly more difficult in most disciplines than it was one year ago.
An Adapting Industry
The insurance business, like all industries, is experiencing meaningful disruption and transformation of its business models. Technology and data transformation is changing the insurance sector, “but at its core, the insurance industry is still driven by focused and disciplined underwriting,” said Craig Lapham, managing partner and CEO of the Lapham Group, a C-suite leadership provider specializing in recruiting top talent for the global insurance and diversified financial services sector. “This change is being seen across all segments of the P&C industry, both consumer/personal and commercial lines. As the world continues to increase in complexity, the industry is adapting itself to provide risk management products and services for rapidly expanding risks including cyber risk.”
Mr. Lapham also noted that given the prolonged low interest rate environment, the ability to effectively analyze and leverage information and data is viewed as a key strategic differentiator in the insurance industry and a major reason why an organization such as the III is viewed as such a critical resource to the industry.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media