NJM Announces the Retirement of President & CEO Bernie Flynn
January 26, 2018Mitch Livingston, veteran NJM executive, named to lead 104-year old company
WEST TRENTON, NJ — NJM Insurance Group today announced that President & Chief Executive Officer, Bernie Flynn, will retire on April 27, 2018, after a career at the Company that spanned 25 years, including the past 10 as its leader. Mitch Livingston, NJM's Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, has been selected by the Company's Board of Directors to succeed Mr. Flynn, becoming only the ninth President in NJM's 104-year history.
"Bernie guided NJM through some challenging times during his ten-year tenure as CEO — including the Great Recession and Super Storm Sandy — ensuring every day that we honor our commitment to be there when our policyholders need us," said Brian Neuwirth, Chairman of NJM's Board of Directors. "His commitment resonates throughout the Company, and under his guidance NJM strengthened its national reputation for outstanding customer and claims service, while advancing the Company's already exceptionally strong capital position to ensure policyholders are well protected now and in the years to come."
"At the same time — and in the face of these challenges — Bernie demonstrated true vision by keeping NJM's focus on the future and leading transformational technology advancements that ensure the Company remains a market leader in the property casualty industry, and is well positioned to expand and enhance the products and services it provides to an ever-increasing policyholder base for decades to come. On behalf of our Board, we thank Bernie for his years of dedicated service and leadership."
"The transparency and vision by which Bernie has led the organization can also be found in his commitment to building a strong succession plan," continued Neuwirth. "He has ensured the right people are in place, including his own successor, to uphold the Company's values and meet the changing needs of its customers long into the future. The Board is confident that Mitch's experience as a seasoned NJM executive, industry veteran, and strategic planner, coupled with his moral conviction, make him the right person to lead NJM as it innovates and expands into new markets."
"Leading a team that is so devoted to our customers, so faithful to our values, and so supportive of one another has been a remarkable privilege," said Flynn. "Mitch and I have worked closely together in developing NJM's vision for the future and strategic plan over the past several years. That experience, along with the expertise he's gained in all aspects of the Company as Chief Operating Officer, positions him to successfully build on NJM's legacy." "I'm honored and humbled that our Board of Directors has the confidence in me to lead this tremendous organization through the next phase of its growth," said Livingston. "Bernie's vision and unbridled commitment to the mission of mutuality that has been at the core of NJM's success over the last century has positioned us well for the future. I look forward to working alongside our committed and talented employees to build on that strong foundation as we continue to serve an ever-expanding policyholder base."
About Mitch Livingston
Mitch Livingston joined NJM in 2006. He currently serves as NJM's Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, and has served on the Board of Directors since 2013. Prior to joining NJM, Mitch was a partner in a Trenton-based law firm, specializing in insurance regulatory law and appellate practice, after beginning his career as a Deputy Attorney General representing the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. A member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Mr. Livingston has served on the Ethics Committee of the New Jersey Supreme Court and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees for the Drumthwacket Foundation, an organization dedicated to increasing a sense of pride in New Jersey though preservation of the property that serves as the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey. Mr. Livingston is a graduate of Rutgers University and Rutgers School of Law. He and his wife, Heather, reside in Yardley, Pa. They have two children.
About Bernie Flynn
Bernie Flynn has served as NJM's President & CEO since April 2008. He joined NJM in 1993 as a staff attorney, rising to Vice President and Senior Vice President & General Counsel before being named CEO. He currently serves as co-chair of Greater Trenton, a non-profit whose mission is to advance economic development and revitalization projects in New Jersey's capital city, and vice-chair of NJTV, New Jersey's public television network. He is also the former Chairman and a founding Board member of Choose New Jersey, an independent, privately funded and managed non-profit that markets the Garden State as a premier location for businesses looking to expand or relocate.
About NJM Insurance Company
NJM is among the Garden State's largest property casualty insurers. Founded in 1913, NJM's mission is to provide value-based insurance solutions with the highest levels of service, integrity, and financial stewardship. The Company operates in a mutual fashion for the exclusive benefit of its policyholders. Headquartered in West Trenton, NJ, NJM employs nearly 2,500 workers. For more, visit NJM.com.