Jim Black, Retired Vice Chairman and COO of FM Global, Passes Away

James W. Black, retired vice chairman and chief operating officer of FM Global, died Aug. 31 following a battle with cancer. He was 62.

“Jim was widely admired as a visionary, a leader and a caring human being,” said FM Global president and CEO Shivan Subramaniam. “FM Global owes its reputation as a customer-focused organization to him.”

In 1968, Black began his career with Protection Mutual Insurance Company of Park Ridge, Ill. He was a sales representative for Protection Mutual’s Cleveland, Ohio, office. It is there he spent the majority of his career, rising through the ranks to become vice president and regional manager of Protection Mutual’s North Central region. In 1990, Black moved to Protection Mutual’s home office in Park Ridge as vice president and director of operations. Five years later, he was named executive vice president and COO operating officer, and in 1996, was elected Protection Mutual’s president and chief executive officer.

In the late 1990s, Black’s people skills were called into action with the merger of Protection Mutual and its sister companies, Arkwright Mutual and Allendale Mutual Insurance companies, to form FM Global. In 1998, he was appointed vice chairman and chief operating officer of FM Global, a position he held until his retirement in July 2001.

A memorial service has been scheduled for Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church, 50 Pope Ave., Hilton Head, South Carolina. Donations in Black’s memory can be sent to The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA), c/o Entertainment Industry Foundation, 311132 Ventura Blvd., Suite 401, Studio City, CA 91604-3156 USA.