IIAA Names New CEO

The Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA), announced that Robert A. Rusbuldt is the new CEO of the association. Rusbuldt succeeds Paul A. Equale, who is leaving IIAA to focus on his role as chairman of the Democratic Business Council. Equale will be joining a firm and will provide political and legislative consulting and lobbying to IIAA.

Rusbuldt joined the IIAA as a senior lobbyist in May 1986. He was named executive vice president and COO in 1998 after successfully spearheading the IIAA’s government affairs efforts for many years. In his tenure with IIAA, Rusbuldt established himself as a leading lobbyist on tax, banking and insurance and small business issues. He earned the distinction of being named a top lobbyist on Capitol Hill by The Washington Post and Roll Call.

Since assuming the executive vice president and chief operating officer duties in 1998, Rusbuldt has effectively managed the Association’s day-to-day activities on a range of important fronts. His oversight responsibilities ranged from IIAA’s government affairs operation, to its for-profit subsidiary, to IIAA’s technology advances and much more. As CEO, Rusbuldt says he immediately will begin tackling the many challenges confronting independent agents and IIAA.

In addition to his time with IIAA, Rusbuldt was legislative director for then-Rep. Carroll Campbell (R-S.C.) where he was responsible for House Ways and Means Committee work, and was a lobbyist for the American Insurance Association.

Equale first joined the IIAA staff in January 1982 as a senior lobbyist in its Capitol Hill Office. As senior vice president of government affairs, he led the association’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill for many years and built a highly respected lobbying group.

Equale was named CEO in July 1998. Equale will dedicate considerable time to his role as chairman of the Democratic Business Council of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a post he was named to by DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe two weeks ago.

Topics Legislation