NEWS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brianne Spellane
Senior Director, Communications
202.662.4303
brianne.spellane@ciab.com
Cottingham & Butler’s David Becker Elected Chairman
of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 8, 2019 – David O. Becker, chief executive officer of Cottingham & Butler, Inc., in Dubuque, Iowa, was elected 2020 Chairman of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, as announced today by The Council. He succeeds Martin P. Hughes, executive chairman of the Board of Directors of HUB International in Chicago.
Becker was elected during The Council’s 106th annual Insurance Leadership Forum (ILF) in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Insurance Leadership Forum has been instrumental to the commercial property/casualty insurance industry since its beginnings in 1913, and continues to be the premier industry meeting for market leaders worldwide.
“Dave has made a name for himself by approaching each day with an entrepreneurial spirit focused on how to help both his employees and clients be successful,” said Ken A. Crerar, President/CEO of The Council. “He’s engaged and pragmatic, always looking for opportunities by simply talking to people and listening. He’s also one of our champions for finding better ways to recruit and develop young talent to the brokerage industry, which is very much a priority of ours. We’re looking forward to having him lead our organization in the coming year.”
Since Becker started with Cottingham & Butler in January 2004, the company’s annual revenues have increased more than six fold, propelling C&B to become one of the top 10 employers in Dubuque. C&B has also expanded its geography with Becker at the helm, with more than a quarter of C&B’s 1,000+ employees working in regional offices spread across 24 states. Prior to joining Cottingham & Butler, Becker spent eight years with McKinsey & Company in Chicago, where he was a Partner specializing in issues related to strategy and marketing. Before McKinsey, Becker worked for IBM in a sales and marketing capacity.
Becker has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, graduating magna cum laude. He also holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude.
Becker serves on the Board of the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and is a member of the Washington University Olin School of Business National Council. He is active in several civic and charitable organizations including Holy Family Catholic Schools and the Foundation for Academic & Social Excellence.
As Chairman of The Council, Becker leads a team of officers including Vice Chairwoman Nancy Mellard, executive vice president and General Counsel at CBIZ in Kansas City, Mo.; Treasurer Robert J. Klonk, chief executive officer of Oswald Companies in Cleveland, Ohio, and Secretary Keith Schuler, president and chief executive officer at InterWest Insurance Services, LLC, in Sacramento, Calif.
In addition to Becker’s appointment, six were newly named to The Council’s board:
- Jochen Koerner, Managing Director, Ecclesia Group, Germany
- Kate Armfield, COO & Principal, AHT Insurance, Leesburg, Va.
- Chris Boone, President – P&C, BXS Insurance, Jackson, Miss.
- Michael Christian, CEO, Risk Strategies, Boston, Ma.
- Kyle Lingscheit, CEO, PayneWest Insurance, Missoula, Mont.
- Lori Goltermann, CEO, US Commercial Risk & Health Solutions, Aon, Chicago, Ill., was appointed to the Board in May.