World Insurance Associates Announces Leadership Expansion and New Rankings

TINTON FALLS, NJ — World Insurance Associates LLC (World), a Top 100 insurance brokerage, announced today the expansion of its leadership team to include a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Placement Officer, Deputy General Counsel, Head of Employee Benefits, and a Senior Vice President and Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions. World’s growth strategy includes building a world-class team to deliver on its value proposition of bringing a quality product portfolio combined with an outstanding experience to its partners and clients.

World appointed Brian Fitzgerald, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer. He will oversee all financial and accounting functions for the firm. Prior to World, Fitzgerald held leadership positions at insurance brokerage and sports media firms, most recently with AssuredPartners and XOS Digital. He began his career at PwC.

World appointed Jean Wiskowski as Chief Marketing Officer. She will oversee all marketing, brand and communications functions for the firm. Prior to World, Wiskowski held leadership roles at insurance, PEO, and investment management firms, including Prudential Financial, Inc., Extensis HR and Merrill Lynch.

World appointed Michael Mann as Chief Placement Officer. He will oversee coverage placement strategy, growth and relationship development of all trading partners for the enterprise. Prior to World, Mann held executive leadership roles at national and regional insurance brokerages, including The Plexus Groupe, Assurance--a Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company, and Willis Group LLC.

World appointed Kimberly Briggs as Deputy General Counsel, Director of Compliance. She will oversee all legal and compliance functions for the firm. Prior to World, Briggs held General Counsel leadership roles at Pebble Beach Resorts, USI Insurance Services, Citi Bank and Near North Insurance Brokerage.

World appointed Jennifer Barton as Head of Employee Benefits. She will develop and drive the firm’s growth strategy for the Employee Benefits business. Prior to World, Barton held several senior leadership roles at Willis Towers Watson, including COO of the Human Capital and Benefits Practice for North America. Before that, she worked on the client side of the business as a Director of HR. Barton holds her SPHR, SHRM- SCP, CCP and CSSGB certifications.

World appointed Brad Unger as Senior Vice President of Business Development. He will oversee the firm’s acquisition strategy. Prior to World, Unger held leadership roles at insurance and investment banks, including MarshBerry, Hanover Insurance Group, Partner Reinsurance and Guy Carpenter.

World appointed Laura McCarthy as Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions. She will help lead the firm’s acquisition strategy. Prior to World, McCarthy held roles at Carousel Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, and Harris Williams, a sell-side mergers and acquisitions advisory firm.

 “We are very excited to add such talented and experienced professionals to our leadership team and we look forward to growing their respective areas,” said Rich Eknoian, Chief Executive Officer of World. “We have been full steam ahead since the capital investment last year and expanding our team will enable us to offer our clients more products and services and to give them the best experience possible.”

In addition to building out its executive organization, during the past year World has been focused on its organic and acquisition growth, developing its technology infrastructures and expanding its product lines. The focus on growth has catapulted World up the industry rankings including ranking #2 on Business Insurance’s Fastest Growing Brokers list, #62 on Business Insurance’s 100 Largest Brokers of U.S. Business list, #41 on Insurance Journal’s Top 100 Independent P&C Agencies list and #38 on Insurance Journal’s Top 50 Personal Lines Agencies list. The firm is expected to further jump up the rankings in 2021.

About World Insurance Associates LLC 

World Insurance Associates LLC (World) is headquartered in Tinton Falls, N.J., and is a nationally ranked, full-service insurance brokerage providing individuals and businesses with top products and services across personal and commercial insurance lines, employee benefits, retirement and financial services, and human capital management solutions. Since its founding in 2012, World has completed 98 acquisitions and serves its customers from 125 offices across the U.S. World has been named one of The Most Successful Companies in America by Inc. 5000, is a Top 100 P/C Agency by Insurance Journal and Business Insurance, and a five-time honoree by NJBIZ Fast 50. For more information, please visit www.worldinsurance.com.

Media Contact:

Jean Wiskowski, Chief Marketing Officer

732-380-0900 Ext. 736

jeanwiskowski@worldinsurance.com