Cecil Pearce New President of FIC

The Florida Insurance Council's (FIC) executive board has selected Cecil Pearce as the trade association's new president. He will succeed Guy Marvin, who announced his retirement earlier this summer, on Sept. 15. "The Florida Insurance Council is pleased to welcome Cecil Pearce as our next president," said FIC Chair Harry Spring. "Those of us in Tallahassee consider Cecil to be among the most effective advocates on insurance-related legislative and regulatory issues. His background and leadership will serve our members well in the years ahead." Pearce joins FIC from the American Insurance Association (AIA), where he served in Atlanta as vice president for the Southeast Region. Much of his work for AIA has been focused on legislative and regulatory issues here in Florida. This will be Pearce's second tenure as FIC's chief operating officer. He was FIC president from 1996 to 2002. "I am looking forward to leading the council and returning to Florida," said Pearce. "So much of my work and time has been spent in Florida that in many ways I feel as though this is home. Of course, promoting a healthy insurance market in Florida will not be accomplished without encountering a host of challenges, but that is precisely why I took the job." Pearce serves on the board of directors for the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes and on the board of directors for Associated Industries of Florida, where he chairs the financial securities council. His prior professional experience includes serving as the director of a program to depopulate the Florida Residential Joint Underwriting Association under former Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson and as vice president of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. He also has held positions with the Independent Insurance Agents of America in Washington, D.C., and the Illinois Independent Insurance Agents. FIC is the largest insurance trade association in the state of Florida, representing some 200 insurers and insurer groups that write more than $19 billion in premium volume in Florida.