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2019 Women to Watch: Mary McIvor

Posted On: Dec. 2, 2019 12:00 AM CST

Mary McIvor

Mary McIvor
Head of financial lines claims, North America
American International Group Inc.
New York
Age: 53

After starting her career on Wall Street with a seven-year stint at a law firm, Mary McIvor joined the insurance world first as a litigator, then as assigned counsel for insurers, and for the past 17 years has worked at American International Group Inc.

At AIG, Ms. McIvor said her one constant over the years has been change, which includes her promotion six months ago to head of the company’s financial lines claims in North America. Prior to taking that role, she was executive vice president for financial institutions and transactional claims.

“Having to continually adapt and evolve, I think, is a healthy thing,” she said. Her current role, which includes overseeing a team of more than 200 claims professionals, enables her to learn about new products, particularly cyber, while “maintaining our core strengths and a focus on what we’re delivering to our customers.”

Jacqueline Waters, Chicago-based managing director and practice leader for FSG legal and claim at Aon PLC, who has worked with Ms. McIvor on claims that AIG has been involved with over the years, said her hard work and perseverance as a long-time employee of AIG shows her dedication to the firm and her career.

“She has great communication skills … but has paid attention to the technical side,” said Ms. Waters. “She is extremely knowledgeable … I think she has the capacity to oversee greater breadth of areas and space.”

Over her career, Ms. McIvor said she has had great mentors and has also had the opportunity to develop high-potential and high-performing employees and help them get to the next level.

“Watching people develop and grow has been really rewarding,” she said. “And that process has helped me develop as well.”

She said she is encouraged by universities offering risk management and insurance majors to help attract the next generation of insurance professionals.

“Very few people start out as a child thinking they’re going to go into the glamorous world of insurance — it’s an underappreciated industry,” she said. “It’s part of our mission to get the word out on what a vital, interesting and challenging industry it is, and what great careers can be had.”

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