Woodruff-Sawyer & Co brokerage announces new CEO

Twenty-year veteran appointed as new leader alongside senior leadership changes

Insurance News

By Lucy Hook

US brokerage Woodruff-Sawyer & Co has appointed a new CEO, the company announced this week.

Andy Barrengos, a 20-year veteran of Woodruff-Sawyer who is also a partner, senior vice president and director of the firm, will take up the role of CEO as of November 30, after being named by the board of directors.

Barrengos has a client focus in a number of complex risk sectors, including technology and life sciences, the company said, and will become the sixth CEO in the firm’s history.

“We believe that Andy is the ideal CEO to lead Woodruff-Sawyer forward,” the broker’s chairman, Stan Loar, said, adding that Barrengos is a “proven executive” with significant industry experience, a passion for client service and impressive management skills.

“We are confident that under Andy’s leadership Woodruff-Sawyer will continue building on our premier risk management and insurance franchise, and delivering the trusted counsel that is the hallmark of our firm,” he continued.

Speaking of his new role, Barrengos said he was deeply honoured to be leading the company, adding: “Woodruff-Sawyer is home to an incredibly talented and dedicated team with a client-focused culture that serves as the foundation for our success… We have a strong market position and an unrivaled reputation in the marketplace, and I want to build on that momentum as we take our firm into its second century of growth and success.”

As well as a new CEO, Woodruff-Sawyer & Co also announced the promotion of two executives to senior leadership positions.

Zac Overbay, senior vice president and claims practice leader, will become the firm’s chief administrative officer, and Carolyn Polikoff, senior vice president leading the firm’s San Francisco corporate & executive protection practice, will become the national practice leader for all corporate & executive protection and property & casualty insurance business units.

Overbay will be responsible for many of the firm’s operational functions in support of its growing national footprint, resources and industry sectors, the company said.

Polikoff, in her enterprise-wide role, will oversee all non-benefits revenue, integrating the broker’s services across the business units and providing consistent client service through a unified national structure.

“We are thrilled to have Zac and Carolyn on our senior leadership team with Mary and Kathy,” Loar said.

“Their appointments reflect the depth of our talent. They are seasoned executives whose skills will be valuable additions to our senior leadership team.”


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