UP CLOSE: Paul Baldwin

PAUL BALDWIN

NEW JOB TITLE: Westerville, Ohio-based president and CEO of Huntington Insurance, a subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Inc.

PREVIOUS POSITION: Phoenix-based senior vp and regional managing director of the southwest region for Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA Inc.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: The thing that has been most refreshing to me and re-energizing is the feeling of empowerment to...be very client-centric, to be able to go out and solve problems on behalf of prospects and clients. I look forward to working with the producers and the support teams...to feel passionate about working with clients.

GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: I want to make sure that...our operations, our actions and our resources are all driven by client value instead of having ego dictate our actions. We don't strive to be the largest operation, but we want to be the best. We want to attract the most talented, passionate, driven people who can articulate that message to the client.

INDUSTRY CHALLENGES: The industry has had tremendous consolidation. Everyone has gotten addicted to acquisition. I don't know that there have been efficiencies driven by those acquisitions.

BEST THING ABOUT A BAD ECONOMY: Entrepreneurs and creative people rise to the surface and they take calculated risks. We're a driven country and that spirit always rises to the top.

ADVICE: Find something in the industry that you are passionate about. Work will then just become something you are enthusiastic about.

OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: When I was a kid I wanted to (play) in the National Football League and win a Super Bowl.

HOBBIES: Coaching football. Physical fitness is a passion of mine; I like working out. I have a Harley-Davidson. I have a voracious appetite for reading, too.

ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: My day is fulfilled when our junior high football team has won and my son has played well.

EMAIL OR PHONE, AND WHY: I prefer phone. You hear passion and inflection in someone's voice. I'm a little old-fashioned.