Insurance Information Institute President Gordon Stewart will retire at year’s end and be replaced on Jan. 1 by Robert P. Hartwig, now senior vice president and chief economist, the organization announced last week.

Mr. Hartwig was immediately promoted to executive vice president of the industry’s New York-based information clearinghouse, setting the stage for him to replace Mr. Stewart, who will retire on Dec. 31 after 15 years with the Institute.

“The [Institute] is well positioned as a credible and effective organization, delivering high-impact, value-added information that benefits the public and the insurance industry,” said Edmund Kelly, chairman of the Institute’s board of directors.

“Gordon Stewart’s leadership and achievements have created a strong foundation for what we are confident will be a great future under Robert Hartwig,” added Mr. Kelly, who is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group.

Mr. Hartwig came to the Institute in 1998 as a vice president and economist. In 1999, he was promoted to chief economist, and in 2002 was given the additional title of senior vice president and chief economist. He has served as an expert voice on insurance industry topics, been a prolific speaker at industry conferences, and is frequently interviewed by the press.

Mr. Hartwig previously served as director of economic research and senior economist with the National Council on Compensation Insurance. He also worked as senior economist for the Swiss Reinsurance Group in New York, and as senior statistician for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Stewart joined the Institute in 1989 after working as vice president for public affairs at the American Stock Exchange from 1982 to 1989. He also served as deputy chief speechwriter to President Jimmy Carter.

Among some of his accomplishments, Mr. Stewart spearheaded the creation of the Hurricane Insurance Information Center in Florida following Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In 1997, he founded the Property-Casualty Joint Industry Forum, an annual gathering of powerhouse industry officials.