Branch manager

Crystal & Company

Age: 35

Before joining Crystal & Co. as Houston branch manager in 2012, Todd Yomtov already had succeeded in growing two separate independent brokerage firms.

As a principal at NII Brokerage L.L.C., he led multiple acquisitions that generated $38 million in premiums per year, increased the customer retention rate by 17% and increased its profit by 12%.

As director of sales at HG Financial Services L.L.C., he established and maintained a sales team of 15 professionals and accelerated revenue growth substantially.

Mr. Yomtov excels by focusing on providing personalized attention to each client and understanding their specific needs, said Justin Segal, chief operating officer, at Boxer Property Management in Houston.

“His entrepreneurial mindset is much appreciated, as he is able to understand the unique elements of our business and, more important, to find insurance products and solutions tailored to our specific needs,” he said.

Mr. Yomtov said he entered the insurance brokerage business after working as a trader on Wall Street in New York. “When I got tired of the stock market, I decided to learn more about the insurance business. I was intrigued by how technical it could be,” he said.

His first position was at the NIA Group L.L.C., which later was acquired by Marsh Inc. Then he went to work with a co-worker who started his own firm called HG Financial Services. After a time, he decided to leave that partnership and launch NII Brokerage.

“Then we were approached by a large national brokerage that was acquiring agencies like us,'' Mr. Yomtov said. “They presented us with a very good offer and they needed a New York platform. We decided to sell to them in 2011.”

That's when Mr. Yomtov joined Crystal's Houston branch. He was promoted to branch manager after six months of overseeing commercial insurance services.

“I like working with my team and building my team and working with the clients, helping them solve problems,” Mr. Yomtov said. “I want us to be a big, competing player, double and triple our revenue and expand Crystal's presence throughout the Southwest.”