Robert Berkley is the president and CEO of W. R. Berkley Corporation and John Roche serves as 
the president and CEO of The Hanover Insurance Group

MALVERN, Pa. (July 9, 2024) — The Institutes, a not-for-profit comprised of diverse affiliates that educate, elevate, and connect people in the essential disciplines of risk management and insurance, have appointed W. Robert Berkley Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRBC), and John C. (Jack) Roche, president and CEO of The Hanover Insurance Group as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the organization’s Board of Trustees.

"We are thrilled that Rob and Jack will continue to serve on The Institutes Board as our new Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Their extensive experience as leaders in the risk management and insurance sectors, coupled with their generosity in sharing their time and expertise with The Institutes, underscores their commitment to the broader risk management and insurance communities,” said Peter L. Miller, CPCU, president and CEO of The Institutes. “I am grateful for their continued support and strategic guidance, which will undoubtedly strengthen The Institutes ability to educate, elevate, and connect people and issues in risk management and insurance."

Rob joined Berkley in 1997, after serving as an investment banker for Merrill Lynch and Co. His extensive tenure at Berkley includes roles as President and Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and Vice President of strategy and acquisitions. Rob also serves on numerous prestigious boards, including for St. John’s University Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance, and Actuarial Science.

“It is a privilege to be named as the Chair of The Institutes Board of Trustees. I am honored to serve alongside such a talented and committed group of individuals. People are our most important asset in the insurance and risk management business, and The Institutes provides tremendous opportunities for education and development that fortifies our industry’s future,” said Rob Berkley, president and CEO of W. R. Berkley Corporation.

Jack joined The Hanover in 2006 and was appointed president and CEO in 2017. He has more than 30 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance sector, including as president of Hanover Agency Markets, where he was responsible for The Hanover’s personal and commercial lines of business, and in senior management roles at the St. Paul Travelers Cos. Jack also serves on several boards including the board for St John’s University Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science.

“I am honored to be appointed as vice chair of The Institutes’ Board of Trustees. This organization makes a significant impact on our industry, as risk management is the critical focal point of how we best serve our independent agents and policyholders. I look forward to collaborating with my esteemed board colleagues to drive innovation and excellence in risk mitigation, and to continue the important work of protecting what matters most to those we serve,” said Jack Roche, president and CEO of The Hanover. 

"I would also like to thank The Institutes outgoing Chair John M. Howard, CEO of TIH (formerly Truist Insurance Holdings), for donating his time to The Institutes in service of advancing risk management and insurance education," said Peter L. Miller, CPCU, president and CEO of The Institutes. “Under John’s strategic leadership The Institutes have experienced exponential growth in our ability to educate, elevate and connect those interested in risk management and insurance, and I am grateful for his support."