Oswald Companies Names Two Presidents

CLEVELAND, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Oswald Companies, among the nation's largest independent insurance brokerage firms, announced today changes at the executive level.  David C. Jacobs, CPCU, was appointed President. He will provide oversight for the Cleveland-based firm's property and casualty risk division and its branch office operations. He will continue serving as Chief Operating Officer.  Robert J. Klonk, RHU/REBC, was appointed President; additionally, he was promoted to Chief Sales Officer. He will continue to oversee employee benefits, retirement planning services and life insurance division.

Jacobs has been in the insurance industry for more than 20 years in both underwriting and management roles.  "Over the last 10 years he has been at Oswald Companies, Dave has proven his leadership abilities through his management oversight of all risk management practices, human resources, training and information services, technology and branch operations," Chairman and CEO Marc S. Byrnes said.  

Jacobs serves on the boards of directors for The MetroHealth Foundation, Greater Cleveland Film Commission, Westfield Agents Association, PlayhouseSquare Foundation and Fisher College of Business Alumni Board of The Ohio State University. He is a 2009 graduate of Leadership Cleveland.

Klonk has been an innovator in the industry for more than 30 years. "Robert's visionary skills in health care, employee benefits and risk management have distinguished Oswald Companies regionally, nationally and globally.  In addition to his leadership on issues impacting Health Care Reform, Robert will continue to provide clients his strategic guidance and innovations in group purchasing programs when leading our company-wide sales strategies," Byrnes said.

Klonk serves on the boards of directors of Assurex Global, The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (C.I.A.B.) and Council of Employee Benefit Executives (C.E.B.E.) in Washington, DC, and co-chairs the Political Action Committee for the C.I.A.B.  

Joseph G. DuBois will continue in his leadership capacity as Chief Financial Officer, while also taking on responsibilities for human resources and administration.

David P. O'Brien, past president, will remain closely aligned with Oswald Companies. He will retain an active interest in overseeing a dozen national accounts, while pursuing investment opportunities in the insurance industry.

"Despite market turbulence and a challenging economy, Oswald Companies continues to prosper.  We are proud to report profitability, a growing revenue base and ongoing sustainability as we continue to hire new people who can contribute to our mission of caring for our clients' and employees' needs, today and tomorrow," Byrnes said. •

About Oswald Companies - Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio where it was founded in 1893, Oswald Companies provide value-added products and global services in risk management, property and casualty insurance, life insurance, group benefits and retirement plans from offices in Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio. This combination of service locations results in 238 employee owners; they are supported by 20,000 professionals from nearly 500 partner offices in more than 80 countries on six continents as members of the Assurex Global, a consortium of leading risk management and business insurance experts. Learn more at www.oswaldcompanies.com

SOURCE Oswald Companies