Watkins leads market development initiatives for Lloyd’s largest market – the US, Canada and Latin America. An active member of IICF for a decade in a range of leadership roles, Watkins has been a member of the IICF International Board of Governors since 2017. Having joined the IICF’s Northeast Division Board of Directors in 2010, he has served as a member of its Executive Committee since 2012 and as the Northeast Division Board Chair for an extended three-year term from 2017 - 2019. At the conclusion of his Board Chair tenure, the IICF Northeast Division remained the foundation’s largest, with more than $9 million in community grants awarded since 2007.
“As the philanthropic voice of the insurance industry, IICF is recognized for uniting the industry in collective charitable giving and volunteering, as well as inspiring a culture of giving back,” Watkins said. “I am honored, as Chair of IICF’s International Board of Governors, to have this opportunity to work with IICF and our member companies in advancing the foundation’s mission of supporting local communities throughout the US and UK.”
With more than 35 years in the insurance industry, Watkins has held a number of positions in leadership as well as in underwriting and client management in the US and Europe. He’s been a dedicated philanthropic leader, and along with his years of IICF board leadership, has also served as Chair of IICF’s Northeast Division’s Dinner Committee, the division’s marquee annual fundraiser, for several years. During his time on the Dinner Committee, Watkins and his fellow board members partnered with the honoree to raise more than $1 million at each event to benefit New York Tri-state nonprofit and charitable organizations. Watkins’ additional industry board roles include the Insurance Information Institute, the Insurance Federation of New York and the Board of Overseers at the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management at St. John’s University.
Watkins also spearheaded the effort by Lloyd’s to support the COVID-19 Crisis: IICF Children’s Relief Fund with a $500,000 contribution earlier this year, which has helped to deliver tens of thousands of meals to vulnerable children struggling with food insecurity and other risks exacerbated by the pandemic. To date, the IICF Children’s Relief Fund has provided more than 2.2 million meals to children and their families at risk of food insecurity during this global crisis.
Watkins will succeed Barbara Bufkin, Senior Advisor, AmWINS Access, who served as International Board of Governors Chair from 2018 through 2020.
“The dedication and passion Barbara brought to her role as Chair of the International Board of Governors was tremendous. IICF is truly grateful for her outstanding leadership and guidance,” said Bill Ross, CEO of IICF. “As Barbara’s successor in this role, Hank will be a powerful ambassador for IICF, raising the bar on the work we do to unite the insurance industry in support of those in need across the US and UK. Hank’s relationships, industry expertise and dedication to service, as well as to IICF, make him an ideal steward to guide our organization through these challenging times and beyond.”
About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, IICF has served as the philanthropic foundation of the insurance industry for more than twenty-five years, contributing $42 million in community grants along with 300,000 volunteer hours by more than 110,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised, serving hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations, for maximum community impact. IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on social media: @doubleicf.