Washington, D.C. November 19, 2020 – Risk Cooperative, a leading provider of risk management services and comprehensive insurance solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Les Williams, Risk Cooperative’s Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer, as a professor of Practice in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at his alma mater, the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). As a successful entrepreneur, risk and resilience leader, this recognition of Les’ contributions to management practice are a capstone to a year of personal and professional accomplishments.
Other notable achievements in 2020 include his nomination and acceptance of the Bert King Award for Service, an alumni achievement award from Harvard Business School (HBS), where Les received an MBA in 2005. Les has remained an active contributor to the HBS alumni community as a past global alumni board member and as a key leader in recruiting underrepresented students. While at HBS, Les served as the co-president of his class but also mastered HBS’ renowned case based teaching method, which is reflected in his copious writing and speaking engagements about the risks and business issues shaping the world. He will bring this expertise to bear not only for Risk Cooperative’s clients, but for his students at UVA SEAS, where he was the recipient of the 2018 UVA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, the highest honor bestowed upon graduates of the department.
In addition to the HBS and UVA recognitions, Les was also named to the Private Directors Association (PDA) Cybersecurity Initiative Strategic Council, which is a leading organization providing a national network where executives and professionals interested in board service can network with boards interested in securing exceptional board members. Shoring up private enterprises and in particular small to medium-sized businesses to help improve their resilience to complex and emerging risks is not only a corporate priority for Risk Cooperative, it is a personal mission for Les. His role as a key advisor to PDA will help amplify his guidance to this key sector of the U.S. economy. Les was also named 2020 Specialty Power Broker by Risk & Insurance magazine as an individual who stands out among his peers for exceptional client work over the past year. His selection was based on feedback from current Risk Cooperative clients, including Walter Pizzano at Harvard University, where Les has become an extension of the in-house risk strategy team.
“We are proud of Les’ achievements in 2020, which has been a turbulent year for the world and the country. Les has been a steadfast leader since Risk Cooperative was founded in 2014 and an emblem of the type of platform company we have built. One which prizes diversity, inclusion and the collective endeavor of making the world more resilient,” said Andres Franzetti, Risk Cooperative’s co-founder and CEO.
About Risk Cooperative
Risk Cooperative is a specialized strategy, risk and insurance advisory firm licensed to originate, place and service innovative risk-transfer and insurance solutions in all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Risk Cooperative helps organizations address risk, readiness and resilience through a comprehensive service and solution offering in partnership with leading insurance companies and value-adding partners.
For more information visit: www.riskcooperative.com
Media Inquiries:
media@riskcooperative.com | 202-688-3560
