Symington to Be Big ‘I’ Executive Vice President
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Bob Rusbuldt, president & CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I"), has appointed Charles Symington to the role of executive vice president, effective Oct. 1. Since 2016, Symington has served as senior vice president for external, industry and government affairs.
Rusbuldt recently announced that he will retire on Aug. 31, 2023, and that Symington will succeed him at that time. This new title for Symington will be an interim role as he prepares to take over as the top executive on Sept. 1, 2023.
“I speak for the Big 'I' Executive Committee and entire Board of Directors in saying that we are excited to work with Charles in this new position over the next year, and then as president & CEO after that," says Big “I" chairman John Costello of USI Insurance Services in Rochester, New York. “Charles brings so much wisdom and experience to this new role and he will be well prepared to take over the helm of the national association next fall, ensuring a smooth transition when Bob Rusbuldt steps down."
As executive vice president, Symington will play an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the national association and in various initiatives with the Big “I" state associations and other affiliate organizations. He will also continue to serve on the Big “I" Management Operating Committee, which advises the president & CEO on general oversight and administration of the association.
Symington joined the Big “I" in 2004 on the government affairs staff. Currently, he oversees federal and state government affairs, political affairs, grassroots, industry relations, and communications and media affairs. He has been regularly recognized by The Hill newspaper as a top lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and has been a key leader in many industry coalitions on Capitol Hill, advocating on issues important to Big “I" members.
Under Symington's leadership, the Big “I" has had numerous legislative wins, including securing substantial small business tax relief, defending a modernized state regulatory system for insurance, preserving an effective Federal Crop Insurance Program and extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
“Charles and I have worked together at the Big 'I' for more than 18 years, and our history goes back even further to when Charles worked on Capitol Hill on key insurance legislation," Rusbuldt says. “Over the next year, we will be taking on many important priorities for independent agents and brokers across the country. There are few who know the independent agent channel and understand its unique needs better than Charles, and we will be able to steer this association together toward a seamless leadership transition. I look forward to leaving the reins of the Big 'I' in his very capable hands."
Prior to joining the Big “I," Symington served as a senior counsel with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services from 2000-2003 where he focused on insurance issues. During that time, he was actively involved in drafting TRIA in 2002 and other significant legislation. He also worked as a majority counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, concentrating on health care policy and oversight.
Symington worked in the private sector before his time on Capitol Hill, first as an associate attorney with Drew, Eckl & Farnham in Atlanta, specializing in insurance defense litigation, and then as an attorney with the firm Matricardi & Moylan in Springfield, Virginia.
Symington graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in history and graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Emory University, School of Law in Atlanta. Symington also currently serves as the immediate past chairman of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and has served on the NDSS board since 2014.
The longest tenured Big “I" top executive, Rusbuldt announced his retirement to the Big “I" Board of Directors on September 17 in Niagara Falls, New York. He joined the association in 1986 and was named CEO in 2001 after leading the government affairs department at the Big “I" for many years. He has overseen many landmark Big “I" initiatives, including the inception of an affiliate bank, InsurBanc; the development of a consumer marketing brand for member independent agents, Trusted Choice®; and the establishment of BIRC, a reinsurance company. Rusbuldt recently steered the Big “I" through the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic and also the celebration of the association's 125th anniversary.
