John A. Bogardus Jr.

Jack Bogardus writes on risk and insurance history for IRMI.com.

With an insurance career spanning more than 40 years, Mr. Bogardus joined Alexander & Alexander as a trainee in 1950 and spent his entire professional career with the firm. Rising through the ranks, he held the positions of vice president (1962-1973), executive vice president (1973-1977), president and chief operating officer (1977-1978), president and chief executive officer (1978-1982), chairman and chief executive officer (1982-1987), chairman of the board (1987-1988), and director (1963-1995).

Respected as well outside of the insurance industry, Mr. Bogardus has served as a director of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc., Security Capital Corporation, and United States Surgical Corporation. He was a trustee of Pomfret School and also held leadership positions in nonprofit organizations in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut.

A featured speaker at insurance industry meetings, Mr. Bogardus is the author of articles in various professional journals. He served as a director of the Insurance Brokers Association of New York and a director and chairman of the governing committee of the National Association of Insurance Brokers. He was also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Insurance Committee, and a board member of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and of the Insurance Institute of America.

Born in New York City, he graduated from Princeton University in 1950. Mr. Bogardus served two tours of active duty in the U.S. Navy, the first as an enlisted man, subsequently as an officer.

Jack Bogardus and Robert Moore are co-authors of the award winning Spreading the Risks: Insuring the American Experience (2003) and the revised edition (2005). Mr. Bogardus can be reached at (703) 759-0233 and through the Web site www.spreadingtherisks.com.

Articles on IRMI.com

Insurance Industry: Risk and Insurance History

"Lloyd's of London: The Early Days" (September 2007)

In the Beginning: Managing Risks (June 2007)

"Catastrophes" in Early Twentieth Century America (December 2005)

"Flying Machines" and Early Airline Insurance (June 2005)

American Insurance at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century (September 2004)

Spreading the Risks: Insuring the American Experience (January 2004)

Formulas for Success (September 2003)