Title: Chief Executive Officer and Senior Consultant
Company: Risk Management International LTD
Location: Port Washington, New York, United States
James W. Barber, chief executive officer and senior consultant at Risk Management International LTD, has been recognized by Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in risk management.
With an exceptional career spanning more than five decades in the insurance and risk management sector, Mr. Barber has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise and resilience. Since 2015, he has excelled with Risk Management International LTD as chief executive officer and senior consultant, guiding the firm through significant growth and transformation. His current focus is on rebuilding a comprehensive group buying-power insurance program for businesses within the food industry. This initiative follows his earlier success in developing a similar program at his previous firm, which he grew from less than one million dollars in premiums in 1992 to more than fifty-five million dollars by 2010. The new program at Risk Management International LTD has already generated between three and four million dollars in premiums from accounts managed directly within his office.
Mr. Barber’s professional journey began with early clerical roles after a formative summer job at his father’s life insurance business in 1960. Eventually gravitating toward property and casualty coverage, he formalized his knowledge through coursework at the College of Insurance in New York City, earning the credentials necessary to become a licensed insurance broker and consultant. These academic achievements provided the foundation for his transition from administrative roles to positions of increasing responsibility within the industry.
Mr. Barber’s career milestones include his appointment as vice president after earlier roles as general manager and file clerk at Farjeon, Ballin & Co., where he gained foundational experience in insurance operations until 1971. He then advanced to senior account executive and producer at Mollod and Berkowitz from 1971 to 1973, followed by a producer position at Alexander & Alexander Services Inc. from 1973 to 1976.
In 1976, Mr. Barber joined Warner Communications as an officer, performing risk management duties on a salaried basis until 1982. He subsequently founded Employers Risk Management, serving as president until 2010. After selling that business to a venture capital firm consolidating insurance operations on a fee basis rather than commission, Mr. Barber remained with the aforementioned organization until 2015 under RMI Consulting Inc., before acquiring smaller accounts to establish Risk Management International LTD.
Throughout these transitions, Mr. Barber’s extraordinary commitment to detail set him apart as an expert in risk management. His approach centers on identifying gaps in coverage that others often overlook, such as exceptions to pollution exclusions, and ensuring clients receive comprehensive protection rather than focusing solely on cost savings. This meticulousness has garnered him praise among clients and peers alike.
Furthermore, Mr. Barber obtained several professional certifications that have been instrumental throughout his career. Licensed as an insurance broker, he additionally acquired his licenses as in life insurance and insurance consulting. These critical credentials have enabled him to provide authoritative advice across a wide spectrum of risk management scenarios.
Mr. Barber’s leadership extends beyond the corporate sphere into civic engagement as former head of Société Mondiale du Vin, a subchapter of La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society with centuries-old traditions. In this role, he fostered camaraderie among members through monthly gatherings centered on fine wine and dining. Mr. Barber has also contributed to thought leadership within the field through projects such as “Risk Management International Protecting Business from Costly Coverage Gaps,” sharing insights into best practices for safeguarding organizations against unforeseen liabilities.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Barber is known for his generosity toward family members—including providing homes as wedding gifts for his daughters and establishing substantial tuition and trust funds for each grandchild—as well as his devotion to supporting relatives facing medical challenges or disabilities. His achievements have been acknowledged with notable accolades including recognition by Insurance Business Review. Furthermore, Risk Management International LTD has been celebrated as the number one risk management consulting firm in the United States by Business Insurance magazine.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Barber’s foremost goal is to continue exploring the world alongside his wife, including National Geographic-sponsored tours they both cherish. Professionally, he remains dedicated to expanding the food industry buying program at Risk Management International LTD and restoring staffing levels that will allow him to balance business growth with personal fulfillment. Mr. Barber attributes his enduring success simply to focus, a principle evident throughout his remarkable career trajectory and ongoing contributions to both profession and community.
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