Former FEMA Head Wright Now Leading IBHS

July 16, 2018

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) selected Roy E. Wright in April as the next president and chief executive officer of the organization, succeeding Julie Rochman who retired after more than 10 years there.

Wright joined IBHS from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he most recently led the agency’s resilience, risk management, risk reduction, and flood insurance programs. Wright served as chief executive for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and led the reinsurance and risk transfer program that helped financially support the NFIP during 2017’s record breaking storms.

The non-profit IBHS is dedicated to researching and promoting effective strategies to strengthen homes and businesses against a variety of natural hazards. IBHS is wholly supported by the property insurance industry.

Wright is based at the IBHS Research Center in Chester County, South Carolina.

“After conducting an exhaustive nationwide search, we are confident that Roy has the right blend of experience, vision, and leadership skills to accelerate IBHS’ progress toward tangibly reducing the terrible losses Mother Nature inflicts each year with wind, hail, wildfire and other perils,” said Eric Nelson, senior vice president for CAT Strategy & Analysis at The Travelers Companies, Inc., and IBHS vice chairman. Nelson led the IBHS CEO search committee.

“IBHS has only begun to realize its full, incredible potential as an organization and dynamic force for positive change, and I am honored to take the helm,” Wright said. “I look forward to working with IBHS members and the institute’s highly talented leadership team and staff. We will continue to prove the value of resilience and encourage home and business owners to take steps large or small to reduce disaster response and recovery expenditures.”

Rochman joined IBHS as president and CEO in late 2007. Under her leadership, IBHS has gained new insights into structural vulnerabilities – particularly involving roofing systems – and provided information about how to strengthen both new and existing buildings.

In addition, Rochman spear-headed creation of IBHS’ one-of-a-kind research facility in South Carolina, which is capable of simulating hurricanes and wind storms, hail storms, wildfire ember storms, and wind-driven rain to test the strength and durability of full-scale residential and commercial building systems and materials.

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Insurance Journal West July 16, 2018
July 16, 2018
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