A cocktail reception and award ceremony will be held in Ms. Albo’s honor on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis. Tony Kuczinski, President and CEO of Munich Reinsurance America, Inc., will introduce Ms. Albo at the event. 

 

 “We are very proud that Pina is receiving this honor,” said Mr. Kuczinski.  “Pina joined Munich Re in 1992 and became Executive Head of the Department for the United Kingdom and Ireland before traveling to the U.S. to join Munich Reinsurance America in 2008.  Today, as President of our Reinsurance Division, Pina leads a team of 300 professionals and is responsible for $1.8 billion in premium written directly and through brokers.  In addition to her role as the head of Reinsurance, Pina is a key executive on numerous Munich Re strategic initiatives, including acquisition and integration activities, and sits on several Boards of Directors for Munich Re.  Pina’s energy and commitment are an inspiration to all who know her.”

A powerful leader within her organization and industry, Ms. Albo serves as an exemplary role model for women. She has spent considerable time and effort as an advocate for women in the workplace. In 2010, Ms. Albo was the executive sponsor of a diversity initiative created to encourage the development of women within the company. She worked with Munich Re America’s Human Resources Department to launch the Munich Re Women’s Network, a resource for more than 500 women at all levels in the organization to learn, share and connect with one another. In 1996, Ms. Albo helped launch a women’s network at Munich Re’s Munich, Germany headquarters, which was instrumental in creating a day care center for employees of Munich Re and members of the community, among other things.

Ms. Albo, an APIW member, serves on the Board of Directors of the Insurance Information Institute as well as an alternate member of the Board of Directors of the Reinsurance Association of America. She is also on the National Board of Governors of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, which provides grants, volunteer service and leadership to help communities and enrich lives. 

Ms. Albo is fluent in English, Italian, German and French and has a working knowledge of Spanish. An avid jogger, reader and writer, Ms. Albo has written two fiction books. In 2010, one of her books, about a woman trying to combine an interesting career with family life, won first prize in the women’s fiction category of the 2010 Stiletto Writing Contest. She is the mother of three young children, and has learned to achieve balance in her life by having a successful career, but keeping family her priority.

The APIW Insurance Woman of the Year Award, first presented in 1976, recognizes an exceptional woman who has achieved prominence in her profession and has made significant contributions to the insurance industry. In announcing this year’s award, Carol Ann O’Dea, President of APIW, said: “APIW is proud to bestow this honor on Pina Albo. She serves as an outstanding role model and has been instrumental in the establishment of the Munich Re Women’s Network.  Her mentoring, flexibility and accommodation of personal situations extend equally to all colleagues regardless of gender. Her leadership and accomplishments, as well as her commitment to supporting and advancing women, are exceptional examples of all of the qualities that APIW looks for in the recipient of this highly prestigious honor. She has portrayed exemplary professionalism in all her activities and is highly respected both within her organization and within our industry.”

Founded in 1976, APIW is the leading organization dedicated to advancement of professional insurance women and to the recognition of their contributions to the industry. APIW sponsors programs that encourage professional development and provide opportunities for members to hone leadership skills. The group has more than 300 members who are successful professionals in the insurance industry and have a cross-section of industry skills and knowledge to share. APIW is based in New York City, with a network in Chicago. For more information about APIW, visit our web site at www.apiw.org or contact us at info@apiw.org.