Press Releases

Risk Strategies Selects Industry Veteran Steve Giannone to Run Chicago Office, Lead Central Region Operations

Regional operating structure build-out drives efficiency in client service and business development

BOSTON, August 06, 2019 -- Risk Strategies, a leading national specialty insurance brokerage and risk management and consulting firm, today announced industry veteran Steve Giannone has been selected to run its Chicago office and oversee operations in the firm’s central United States region.

Giannone brings almost 30 years of insurance industry experience to this new role at Risk Strategies, including stints at major carriers and brokerage firms. He most recently served as senior vice president and managing director at USI Insurance Services’ Insurance Brokerage and Consulting practice in Chicago, where he led its sales and service efforts while overseeing operational functions.

“As we grow, we are keenly aware of the need to ensure that our size and specialization remain strengths and not impediments in order to deliver excellence in client service,” said John Mina, president of Risk Strategies. “Steve’s experience on both the carrier and broker side, and proven track record in managing sales and operations, is the mix we believe is needed to guide our growth in the Central Region.”

Prior to his time at USI, Giannone was a senior vice president and zonal executive with American International Group (AIG). Overseeing a 14-state operation, Giannone’s responsibilities at AIG included growing revenue and controlling costs as well as employee recruitment and development, distribution management, client engagement, compliance and underwriting. He also managed AIG’s largest onshore-energy property operation out of its Houston office, heading a 20-person team of technical underwriters and loss control engineers.

“Risk Strategies’ vision of being a specialty firm focused on delivering value through expertise is distinctive in the market,” said Giannone. “I’m excited to help further that vision by not only driving efficiency and growth but also facilitating processes that ensure practitioners can make a real difference for clients.”

Giannone first came to Chicago to start-up a facultative reinsurance operation for Willis Re, a reinsurance advisor, where he was an executive vice president and managing director. Prior to Willis Re, he spent a number of years with Travelers in New Jersey, managing a multi-line middle-market book of business in the company’s commercial accounts group. A graduate of Marist College, he began his insurance career as a senior account executive with Hartford Steam Boiler, a specialist in equipment breakdown insurance and loss prevention services, which is now part of reinsurer Munich Re.

In April of this year, Risk Strategies announced the hiring of William Holden to oversee its Western regional operations. In October of 2017, Risk Strategies appointed insurance industry veterans John Scroope and Scott Popilek to lead its Northeast and Southeastern region operations, respectively. 

To learn more about Risk Strategies, please visit www.riskstrategies.com

About Risk Strategies

Risk Strategies is the 9th largest privately held US brokerage firm offering comprehensive risk management advice, insurance and reinsurance placement for property & casualty, employee benefits, private client services, as well as consulting services and financial & wealth solutions. With more than 30 specialty practices, Risk Strategies serves commercial companies, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals, and has access to all major insurance markets. Risk Strategies has over 100 offices including Boston, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Grand Cayman, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. RiskStrategies.com.