REILLY NAMED BIG “I” FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
Capitol Hill, political veteran brings plethora of skills, experience
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 20—Brendan T. Reilly, a leading staffer on the House Committee on Financial Services, has been named director of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), effective Jan. 1, 2005.
Reilly, liaison to Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) and Vice Chair Sue Kelly (R-N.Y.) since 2003, was responsible for developing and promoting the vice chair’s legislative agenda and worked closely with House and committee leadership, and key members of Congress and their staffs, on a number of financial services and insurance issues, including insurance regulatory reform and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
“We are thrilled to have Brendan on board at the Big ‘I’,” says Charles E. Symington Jr., Big “I” senior vice president of federal government affairs. “Brendan is intimately familiar with many important issues that are crucial to independent insurance agents and brokers across America. When topics such as insurance regulatory reform, TRIA, legal reform, and health care reform come up for discussion, we will benefit greatly from his knowledge and expertise.”
Prior to his work on the committee, Reilly also served as senior legislative assistant to Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) from 2001 to 2002, and as an aide to Rep. Bob Riley (R-Ala.) in 2000. He also has been active in the political arena, volunteering this year for the successful Senate campaign of Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and serving as an advisor on the House campaigns of Ferguson in 2002 and Dick Zimmer (R-N.J.) in 2000.
“Brendan brings a wealth of experience and skills to the table, and he knows Capitol Hill inside and out,” says Big “I” CEO Robert A. Rusbuldt. “He brings an added dimension to our federal government affairs operations and can only help enhance our presence in the halls of Congress. We are very pleased to have Brendan on the Big ‘I’ team.”
Reilly, a native of Allendale, N.J., earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Reilly will replace Justin Roth, vice president of federal government affairs, who is leaving to take a federal government affairs position with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). Roth leaves after almost four years of service with the Big “I” government affairs team.
“We wholeheartedly appreciate Justin’s hard work and dedicated service to the Big ‘I’ over the last four years, and we wish him the very best as he makes this career move,” Symington says. “With his background, experience and skills, we are certain he will be very successful.”
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer property and casualty insurance, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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