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The Big ‘I’ Announces Leadership Transition


This week, Charles Symington, executive vice president, took charge of all day-to-day operations of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I").

Charles Symington

Bob Rusbuldt, current president & CEO, will concentrate on issues related to the leadership transition and is relinquishing all operational responsibilities to Symington, who will officially assume the position of Big “I" president & CEO on Sept. 1 as planned.

Symington is committed to maintaining the association's preeminent position as the nation's top advocacy group for independent insurance agents and brokers, and is focused on strengthening relationships with industry stakeholders, including company partners, state associations and the agent and broker community.

Enhancing these relationships across various initiatives and programs will further the association's ability to meet the needs of Big “I" members in the modern marketplace, especially in the areas of market access; technology; diversity equity and inclusion (DE&I); talent recruitment and government advocacy, according to Symington.

Symington has a long Big “I" history. After serving as an insurance counsel on Capitol Hill, he started with the association in 2004 and since then has overseen federal and state government affairs, political affairs, grassroots, industry relations, and communications and media affairs. He has also been regularly recognized by The Hill as one of the top lobbyists in Washington, D.C., and has been a key leader in many industry coalitions on Capitol Hill, advocating on a range of topics important to Big “I" members such as flood insurance, small business tax issues, regulatory reforms and more.