Insurance Advisory Partners (IAP), the boutique investment bank focussed exclusively on the insurance, insurance services and the insurtech industry, today announces the appointment of industry veteran and statesman Joe Plumeri to the newly created role of Chairman, effective September 1, 2025.
Globally recognised as an exceptional leader and industry visionary, Plumeri will add considerable momentum to the fast-growing business, further enhancing the firm’s ability to successfully compete with major investment banks and advisory firms across the globe. He will also become an investor in the company.
Under his leadership as chairman and CEO of NYSE-listed broker Willis Group Holdings, the then third largest broker in the world by revenue, Plumeri delivered outsized returns to KKR and the company’s public shareholders. While at Willis, Plumeri inspired Tony Ursano, now managing partner and cofounder of IAP, to leave Bank of America to launch Willis Capital Markets & Advisory and to run corporate development and strategy at Willis.
In his two-year tenure as CEO of Citibank, North America, Plumeri presided over an increase in earnings of almost 400%. Plumeri also held prestigious roles such as chairman and CEO Primerica, vice chairman of Travelers, president of Smith Barney and president and managing partner of Shearson Lehman Brothers. He started his career in investment banking and brokerage firm Carter, Berlind & Weill. He is also a celebrated motivational speaker, community leader and a champion for many philanthropic and charitable causes and was named Insurance Leader of the Year by St. John’s University School of Risk Management in 2006.
Ursano said: “It is my great honour to welcome my long-standing friend, mentor and colleague Joe Plumeri to Insurance Advisory Partners, both as chairman and an investor. He joins at an important time for IAP, which is now established, growing and redefining the standard for M&A and capital-raising advice through our promise of providing differentiated, objective, insightful advice, while providing an amazing client experience to each and every client we touch. Joe will enable us to raise the bar even further, delivering the highest-quality advice and service to the insurance, insurance services and insurtech industries across the globe.”
Plumeri said: “I’m thrilled to step into the role of chairman at Insurance Advisory Partners. Tony and the rest of the team have built a fantastic business, with a clear vision to provide a level of service that is unmatched. Having closely followed their significant success I am excited to join this exceptional group of people as we drive the next phase of the company’s growth. Insurance Advisory Partners has a great future and I’m proud I get to be part of it.”