Insurer eyes doubling staff [Westchester County Business Journal (NY)]

New York Life Insurance Co. could double its Westchester County workforce between now and 2015, a top executive predicted at the official opening of the company's new offices at 777 Westchester Avenue in White Plains.

The global insurance giant's Westchester General Office, which employs more than 100 agents and roughly 15 executives and staff members, completed its move into the 25,000-square-foot facility late last month.

New York Life Chairman and CEO Ted Mathas was present for a May 22 ribbon-cutting ceremony, and was joined by Westchester Managing Partner Darin Fass, Deputy Westchester County Executive Kevin Plunkett and White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach.

Fass said in a subsequent interview that he sees room for growth.

"My belief is it's an insatiable market nationwide, and I think that here in Westchester there is an enormous opportunity," Fass said. "We have a huge level of wealth in Westchester that it's known for ... so there's lots and lots of opportunity."

Despite neighboring New York Life general offices in New York City and southern Connecticut, Fass said he would like to double the agency's workforce over the next several years.

"I think there's lots of opportunity (for growth). I think we could double the size of our office without our agents stepping on each other's toes," Fass said.

The move to 777 Westchester Avenue comes after the agency in 2011 announced it would move to a 27,500-square-foot facility at 707 Westchester Avenue.

Both properties are part of The Exchange portfolio of properties owned by Normandy Real Estate Partners, headquartered in Morristown, N.J.

The initial lease was brokered by Greg Frisoli of Cushman & Wakefield and Mitti Liebersohn of Jones Lang LaSalle.

Fass said it was important when relocating for the agency to stay near the county's central transit corridors.

"We're part of the fabric of the Westchester community," he said. "I have agents who go into Connecticut, who go into Rockland and Putnam County, but I think from a logistical standpoint White Plains is the best nucleus to start from. Here we're really in more of a commercial area, but it's very accessible to downtown White Plains and all the highways."

The Westchester general office is one of 116 such New York Life agencies across the country, with a total of nearly 12,250 employees nationwide.