San Francisco, California – November 14, 2016 – Woodruff Sawyer announced today that its Board of Directors has named Andy Barrengos Chief Executive Officer, effective November 30, 2016. Mr. Barrengos, 52, is a 20-year veteran of Woodruff Sawyer with a client focus in a number of complex risk sectors, including Technology and Life Sciences. Andy is a Partner, a Senior Vice President and a Director of the Firm. He will become the sixth CEO in Woodruff Sawyer’s 98-year history.
“We believe that Andy is the ideal CEO to lead Woodruff Sawyer forward,” said Woodruff Sawyer Chairman Stan Loar. “He is a proven executive with deep industry experience, a passion for client service and superlative 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.”
“Woodruff Sawyer is home to an incredibly talented and dedicated team with a client-focused culture that serves as the foundation for our success,” said Mr. Barrengos. “I am deeply honored to lead Woodruff Sawyer and I look forward to working with Stan, our Board, Leadership Team, Shareholders and colleagues to fulfill our vision for our clients and employees. 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.”
The Board also announced the promotion of Zac Overbay and Carolyn Polikoff to newly created senior leadership positions. Mr. Overbay, Senior Vice President and Claims Practice Leader, will become the Firm’s Chief Administrative Officer. In this role, he will assume responsibility for many of the Firm’s operational functions in support of its growing national footprint, resources and industry sectors. Ms. 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. In this enterprise-wide role, she will oversee all non-Benefits revenue in order to better integrate the Firm’s services across these business units and provide even more consistent client service through a unified national structure.
Mr. Overbay and Ms. Polikoff will join the Firm’s current senior leadership team, which includes Mary Sklarski, the Chief Strategic Development Officer, responsible for enterprise-wide growth initiatives and insurer relationships; and Kathy Prosser, the National Employee Benefits Practice Leader, responsible for Employee Benefits nationally.
“We are thrilled to have Zac and Carolyn on our Senior Leadership team with Mary and Kathy,” said Mr. Loar. “Their appointments reflect the depth of our talent. They are seasoned executives whose skills will be valuable additions to our senior leadership team.”
Background on Andy Barrengos, Zac Overbay and Carolyn Polikoff
Mr. Barrengos joined Woodruff Sawyer in 1996 and has served in a series of positions of increasing responsibility. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry and is an expert in strategic planning, risk management, program design and new product development. Over his career, he has worked primarily with clients in complex-risk sectors including those in Technology and Life Sciences, with a focus on Directors and Officers Liability, Products Liability, Cyber/Errors & Omissions Liability, and other Property & Casualty risk areas. Prior to joining Woodruff Sawyer, Mr. Barrengos was the Regional Director for Sedgwick’s Life Sciences Practice in California and previously an Underwriting Manager for Technology and Life Sciences companies with Chubb. He serves on the advisory councils for the major insurers and also participates in their product development efforts.
Mr. Overbay joined Woodruff Sawyer in 2002 and has led the Claim Audit and Consulting Practice at Woodruff Sawyer since that time. In this role, Mr. Overbay provided client consultation in the areas of resolving coverage disputes, business litigation, and large-scale catastrophic property losses both nationally and internationally. Prior to joining Woodruff Sawyer, Mr. Overbay was with the State Farm Insurance Companies, where he managed various Property and Casualty claim departments. He was also a member of the company’s national catastrophe team, providing emergency claim response.
Ms. Polikoff joined Woodruff Sawyer in 2006, and has led the firm’s Corporate & Executive Protection Practice since 2010. In this role, she advised clients and Woodruff Sawyer brokers and consultants on matters relating to the full suite of corporate & executive protection insurance policies, including Directors and Officers Liability, Employment Practices and Fiduciary Liability insurance. Prior to joining Woodruff Sawyer, Ms. Polikoff spent 11 years as a financial institutions underwriter for Directors and Officers as well as Errors and Omissions Liability insurance.
About Woodruff Sawyer
As one of the largest independent insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US, Woodruff Sawyer protects the people and assets of more than 4,000 companies. We provide expert counsel and fierce advocacy to protect clients against their most critical risks in property & casualty, management liability, cyber liability, employee benefits, and personal wealth management. An active partner of Assurex Global and International Benefits Network, we provide expertise and customized solutions where clients need it, with headquarters in San Francisco, offices throughout the US, and global reach on six continents. For more information, call 844.972.6326, or visit woodruffsawyer.com.
