Robert Hartwig – longtime leader of the Insurance Information Institute – is stepping down this August.

Hartwig has been I.I.I. president since 2007 and was also the organization’s chief economist before become its president, an 18-year commitment in all. Before that, he held key positions at Swiss Re, the National Council on Compensation Insurance and the United States’ Consumer Product Safety Commission.

He’ll be leaving the insurance industry-supported non-profit to join the faculty of the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. Specifically, he’ll be a faculty member of the school’s finance department, and teach courses in risk management, insurance and corporate finance.

During his time in charge, Hartwig helped to raise the I.I.I.’s profile in the industry in a major way, Bruce Kelley, president and CEO of EMC Insurance companies and the I.I.I.’s board chairman, said in prepared prepared remarks.

“Under [Hartwig’s] leadership, the I.I.I. bolstered its position as a thought leader in the industry and expanded dramatically the audiences who have access to the I.I.I.’s award-winning editorial content, data and subject matter expertise,” Kelley said.

Hartwig, meanwhile, said he was seeking new challenges.

“I have throughout my 23 year career in the insurance world always maintained strong ties to the academic community,” Hartwig said in prepared remarks. “After 18 years at the Institute, now is the right time for me – both personally and professionally – to make a change. I am truly looking forward to my next important role – attracting and educating young talent to this vitally important industry.”

Hartwig said his decision to leave “was an extremely difficult one” and that he loves his current job, “this industry and the daily thrill and privilege of working with amazing people both at the organization itself and throughout the I.I.I.’s membership.”

Kelley said that the members of the I.I.I.’s board will serve as part of a search committee to find the I.I.I.’s next president.

Meanwhle, Hartwig is expected to still write periodic writing research reports for I.I.I. and deliver presentations, work with the media and offer testimony to public policymakers on the the organization’s behalf.

Source: Insurance Information Institute