Johnny Pitts, chief manager, Lipscomb & Pitts Insurance,LLC of Memphis, Tenn., was elected 2014 chairman by The Council of Insurance Agents &Brokers at the association's 100th annual InsuranceLeadership Forum at The Broadmoor. He succeeds Andrew G. Cassidy,executive vice president, Early, Cassidy & Schilling,Inc.

Pitts was employed with Safeco Insurance Co. and CIGNA InsuranceCo. before moving to Lipscomb & Pitts in 1981 wherehe worked as a commercial insurance producer. In 1989, Pittsand Mat Lipscomb III became partners at Lipscomb & PittsInsurance and in 1992 purchased the firm from their fathers, whofounded the company in 1954. Lipscomb & Pitts is now thelargest locally owned insurance agency in the Mid-South U.S.

In addition to The Council, Pitts also serves on the boards ofAssurex Global, Insurors ofTennessee Large Agency Committee, Youth Villages and the BoyScouts. Pitts is also the founder of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, whichworks with local, regional, and national government to help createchange for the Mid-South.

An Eagle Scout and Tennessee native, Pitts earned aninsurance degree from the University of Tennessee, where healso ran track and cross-country.

As chairman of The Council, Pitts leads a team of officersincluding vice chairman Steve L. Brockmeyer, president and chiefexecutive officer, Bolton & Company, Pasadena, Calif.; andtreasurer Bill Henry, chief executive officer/chairman, McQuearyHenry Bowles Troy, L.L.P., Dallas. Robert Cohen, chairman &CEO, IMA Financial Group, Denver, is the newest officer on theboard, elected this week as secretary by his peers.