The Lapham Group Recruits CEO for IFG Companies
April 15, 2021 – After a national search, executive search firm The Lapham Group has placed Behram Dinshaw as chief executive officer of IFG Companies, a multiline property and casualty insurer. Mr. Dinshaw was most recently executive vice president and president of Global Small Commercial and Middle Market Business Centers at Travelers Insurance Co. Craig Lapham, managing partner and CEO, led the assignment. Mr. Dinshaw replaces Christopher M. Lewis who joins the IFG board of directors and will continue as a director of IFG Companies. Mr. Lewis is also assisting in an effective transition both through his role on the board and as an advisor to IFG Companies.
“Over the past seven years, IFG Companies has executed a significant transformation, with key investments in technology and talent, that have enabled the company to generate a strong track record of profitable growth,” said Robert D. Linton, chairman of IFG Companies’ parent, International Financial Group. “With his broad expertise in insurance, finance, actuarial science and analytics, Behram is uniquely positioned to lead IFG Companies in the next stage of our journey.” Prior to his most recent role with Travelers, Mr. Dinshaw served in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility at the company, including (in reverse order) senior vice president and chief operating officer of personal lines; senior vice president of product management, actuarial and analytics and field sales for personal lines; senior vice president and chief actuary, personal lines; and vice president of product management, personal lines. Mr. Dinshaw started his career at Allstate Insurance Co. where he served in a number of product, pricing and field management roles. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in actuarial science from Drake University in 1991. He is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS).
Founded in 1985, IFG Companies is one of the largest privately held insurance groups in the U.S. IFG Companies provides property–casualty insurance on both a non-admitted basis and an admitted basis throughout America. IFG Companies has two principal underwriting groups, the Bind Division and the Brokerage Division. Bind provides general liability, garage liability and property coverages through select contracted producers. Brokerage focuses primarily on mid-sized or more complex accounts and includes the primary casualty, excess/umbrella liability and property underwriting units.
Respected Recruiters
The Lapham Group is a leading boutique executive search firm headquartered in New York City. For over two decades the firm has conducted senior-level search engagements in insurance and diversified financial services, including private equity, venture capital, and asset management. Searches include board directorships, president/CEO/general management, risk management, finance & investment, marketing/sales, and information technology engagements conducted across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Far East. In addition, The Lapham Group has developed strong working relationships with its clients in the implementation of strategic initiatives and new business ventures to include numerous search assignments for start-ups and turnaround opportunities.
Mr. Lapham has served as CEO since 1997. Under his leadership, the firm has conducted senior executive search engagements for multiple Fortune 100 insurance clients and smaller emerging insurance/financial services firms across both P&C and life insurance. He previously served, from 1992 to 1997, as an attorney with global insurer American International Group within the corporation’s U.S. property and casualty business.
“We are in the human capital business and humans by their very nature are inherently unpredictable…both clients and candidates,” Mr. Lapham told Hunt Scanlon Media in a recent interview. “As a result, the best and most successful search firms have the necessary controls in place to adapt and survive within a high level of uncertainty and changing landscape. In the immediate term, our firm has focused on serving clients virtually throughout the entire lifecycle of a search engagement. The close and trusted long-term client relationships developed through a boutique search firm model also pay dividends during these crises. There is a reciprocal loyalty between search firm and client due to our strong performance and high integrity representation of our clients’ interests over long periods of time.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
