Background
Richard M. Blades joined Wortham as a partner in 1993 and was elected to
Wortham's Executive Committee in 2000, vice chairman in 2006, and chairman
in 2013. He also serves as an account executive or senior account executive for
several of the firm's largest clients. He was named a "Power
Broker" by Risk & Insurance magazine in the energy category
in 2006 and 2009 and in the utility category in 2007.
Prior to joining Wortham, Mr. Blades was a senior vice president with J. H.
Blades & Co., Inc., a wholesaler/coverholder specializing in energy
insurance. His responsibilities at J. H. Blades & Co. included serving on
the Board of Directors, marketing major energy accounts, and managing the
firm’s London coverholder contracts.
Mr. Blades started his insurance career as a casualty underwriter with the
Hartford Insurance Group after graduating from the University of Texas with a
double major in finance and insurance in 1982. He left the Hartford in 1984 to
spend a year working as a Lloyd's broker for Jenner Fenton Slade. Mr.
Blades was chairman of the 2001 and 2002 Houston Marine Insurance Seminar.