Congratulations to Hope Aldrich - The 2012 Insurance Professional of the Year

Ms. Aldrich was presented today with the award by The Insurance Library Association of Boston

The Insurance Library Association of Boston presented Hope Aldrich with its 2012 Insurance Professional of the Year award today. A luncheon was held in her honor at the Park Plaza Hotel. Each year since 2001, the Insurance Library Association of Boston has selected someone as its Insurance Professional of the Year who “…demonstrates leadership and exemplifies those qualities that engender understanding of and respect for the insurance industry.” This is only the second time that a woman has been presented with this award.

A 36-year veteran of the Massachusetts insurance industry

Ms. Aldrich is a thirty year veteran of the Massachusetts insurance industry and is currently the President and CEO of Eastern Insurance. Prior to leading Eastern Insurance, Ms. Aldrich was an Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer for the New England region at AON Risk Services. Her insurance career also includes time at Liberty Mutual, where she held various positions include the New England Division Sales Manager.

In a 2011 interview with the Banker and Tradesman, Ms. Aldrich says that after leaving her position with AON in 1997, she was recruited by the Allied American Insurance Agency in Natick. It was her subsequent success with that Agency which caught the attention of Eastern Bank and which led to their hiring of her with the goal of expanding the company’s insurance market share in Massachusetts and beyond.

In 2003 Easter Bank bought the agency and renamed in Eastern Insurance Group. Under Ms. Aldrich’s leadership, the agency currently boasts 312 employees managing over 74,000 clients and approximately $550,000,000 in premium. It is now considered to be one of the largest insurance agencies not only in Massachusetts but in the country with 23 offices nationwide.

In addition to her role with Eastern Insurance Group, Ms. Aldrich also is an active member of her community serving on numerous boards including the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Boston and the Board of Overseers of the Newton-Wellesly Hospital. In addition she is also on the Board of Corporators of Eastern Bank, the Board of Overseers of Children’s Hospital Trust, the Board of Directors of the Insurance Library and the Board of Governors for the Wellesley Country Club. In 2011, Ms. Aldrich was honored by The Banker and Tradesman as one of the publication’s inaugural “Women of FIRE.”

Ms. Aldrich resides with her family in Wellesley is a graduate of Lafayette College.

The Insurance Professional of the Year was established in 2001 through the Richard B. Simches Fund in order to celebrate those who have dedicated their professional careers to the Massachusetts and New England Insurance community. The following is a list of the past award winners:

William F. Hofmann, III, 2002