St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management (SRM) willhonor Prem Watsa, chairman and CEO of Toronto-based FairfaxFinancial Holdings Ltd., as its 2015 Insurance Leader of theYear.

The award dinner event will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan.20, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Proceeds fromthe dinner will support SRM's students and programs.

“The Insurance Leader of the Year accolade is traditionallyawarded to an industry leader for distinguished achievement over along career, or for special achievement in the year ofrecognition,” said Kevin H. Kelley, CEO of New York City-basedIronshore Inc., and chairman of SRM's Board of Overseers.

“Over 30 years, starting from scratch, Prem has built Fairfaxinto an extraordinary global institution. He is a leader ofgreat competence, conviction and courage. Prem also has made ahuge commitment to philanthropy that is well known andesteemed. Many within our industry, and throughout largersegments of the global community, have benefited from Prem’scapabilities and largesse," Kelley said.

The Insurance Leader of the Year Award, presented annually since1995, recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals whoseleadership in the worldwide insurance and financial servicesindustry sets them apart from their peers. Last year’s recipientwas Michael S. McGavick, CEO of Dublin-based XL Group plc.

The School of Risk Management was founded in 1901 as theInsurance Society of New York, and evolved into the College ofInsurance (TCI). In 2001, TCI merged with St. John’sUniversity to become a school within St. John's Peter J. TobinCollege of Business.

The SRM is housed at St. John's Manhattan campus at 101 AstorPlace in New York City.

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