At its formation almost 40 years ago, Old Republic Risk Management was at the forefront of risk management innovation, offering fronted insurance products and unbundled claims when only a handful of insurance companies offered them. The impending retirement of Bob Kennedy, Vice President, Account Executive who has been with Old Republic for 43 years, inspired us to ask him as well as other veteran colleagues to reflect and offer some observations. Well, a lot has changed in 40 years.

Who can remember using Rolodexes before they were replaced with mobile phone contact lists? Who can recall talking to telephone operators before they were replaced with automated phone systems? And remember those little pink message slips? They’ve been exchanged for voicemails.