NAME: Andrew Harbut
NEW JOB TITLE: St. Louis-based senior vice president, NFP Corp.
PREVIOUS POSITION: St. Louis-based managing director, corporate risk, Hauser
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: In light of COVID-19, we have a challenging road ahead. I think well be dealing with the fallout for 18 months. The best we can do in times of uncertainty is be available to our clients, provide actionable expertise and insight, and be ready for when we have more clarity on whats ahead.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Im dedicated to building the insurance diligence practice at NFP and exceeding the expectation of our clients. That means building internal pathways among our many talented professional to deliver the very best consulting advice to our clients. We see tremendous opportunity in helping clients understand the coverage they have, and the coverage they need, and providing the insight required to implement solutions that eliminate gaps as efficiently as possible. Id also like to expand the role of risk diligence, well beyond the traditionally insured risks, to differentiate NFP and provide value to our clients they may not have believed was possible.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: I think most folks in the brokerage industry have been asked to do more with less for years. Were teetering in a place where the admin staff has been decimated, but there remains a ton of paper pushing to capture and organize data in ways that people can interpret it and make intelligent decisions. On the other side, well see artificial intelligence advance the way we do business, but were not quite there just yet.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: I came to the industry in a roundabout way: I had an internship at a labor advocacy nonprofit, where my task was to learn everything about workers compensation insurance and its function in supporting working families. I spent my mornings talking to folks on all sides of the conversation and my afternoons at the College of Insurance Library, learning everything I could from the industry data available there. The perspective and knowledge from that experience continues to pay dividends.
ADVICE: Work at large organizations, invest in yourself through training and education, dont leave before your boss, work with unwavering intellectual curiosity and be grateful youre not in the coal mines like my grandfather.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Id like to make business deals for wholesale goods from behind a metal desk in a dimly lit warehouse. Think some folks from the Salvage and Recovery Department could make that happen?
COLLEGE MAJOR: Undergrad, world religions; MBA, finance
LOOKING FORWARD TO: New audiences for my jokes. And, learning from all the really smart people at NFP. In fact, thats the best part of my job: learning from others.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Eggs and rice, liberally tossed in Tony Chacheres seasoning.
BOOK: Boys and Girls Together, by William Goldman
HOBBIES: I rehab old houses using federal and state tax credits; I have a warehouse with some friends where we work on golf carts and motorcycles. I love wine and enjoy traveling.
TV SHOW: Quantum Leap was a longtime favorite, but I have to admit that Blacklist is my current show of choice.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: I mentor with Big Brothers; I get a lot of joy taking my Little to things he wouldnt otherwise have the opportunity to do.
