Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> February 21, 2005
THOMAS W. CRAWFORD, Chief Executive Officer of Crawford & Company, is
not related to the Crawford family that founded the company over 60
years ago. Mr. Crawford is a nationally known entrepreneurial leader in
the financial services industry. Immediately prior to becoming President
and CEO of Crawford & Company, he founded and served as chairman of The
Bodie Group, Inc., a company specializing in individual and corporate
coaching. Mr. Crawford retired from Prudential Financial as President of
Retail Distribution, one of the largest distribution organizations in
the industry, on January 1, 2003. Prior to Retail Distribution, Mr.
Crawford served as Chairman and CEO of Prudential Property and Casualty
Company (PRUPAC). Both Retail Distribution and PRUPAC profit centers
achieved outstanding success under his leadership. The operational and
financial results were important as the organization transitioned from
mutual to publicly held status in 2001. Before the Prudential
assignments, Mr. Crawford was Founder and CEO of Southern Heritage
Insurance Company in Atlanta, Georgia. The success of this uniquely
structured insurance company culminated in a buyout agreement with GEICO
Insurance Company in 1991. Mr. Crawford began his career in 1965 with
Allstate Insurance Company in his hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. While
at Allstate, he was selected to be in the Executive Development Program
(1968 to 1971) which provided him experience in all operating and
financial departments. He later held several officer positions at CNA
Financial Group in Chicago, Illinois, prior to founding Southern
Heritage. Mr. Crawford attended Roanoke Technical Institute in Roanoke,
Virginia; University of Rutgers International MGA business study at
Cambridge University; and recently, the University of Georgia's National
Association of Corporate Directors College. Mr. Crawford has delivered
numerous keynote speeches including the commencement speeches to the
1999 Rutgers University business graduating class and the 2001
University of Georgia's MBA graduating class. Profile
Mr. Crawford: Crawford & Company's history is important. The company has
a rich heritage beginning in 1941. It was
