Ron Shelp '64

About the Author of FALLEN GIANT

Ron Shelp began his career in the insurance/trade association world when, at 24, he was appointed the first head of the Association of American Insurers Operating Abroad. A few years later Hank Greenberg, CEO, and Jimmy Manton, Chairman of American International Underwriters Corporation (AIUC) recruited him to AIG.

Initially he was responsible for the Washington operations of AIG. But within a short time he became worldwide head of government relations; eventually his primary responsibilities evolved into a troubleshooting role. If AIG wanted to re-enter China, Shelp was given the assignment to secure an invitation to China. If AIG was nationalized in Peru, Shelp's job was to make sure the company was compensated.

Some years later Greenberg appointed Shelp to lead AIG's corporate communications and advertising. Ron Shelp also established AIG's first Washington marketing unit and was elected to a number of AIG boards, including the major international company of the Group - American International Underwriters.

Shelp also served as an insurance industry-wide representative. For a number of years he was the industry delegate to the Insurance Committee of the OECD in Paris. He also chaired the U.S. Government's Industry Sector Advisory Committee on Services.

He left AIG to join the Management Committee of Celanese Corporation. Subsequently, he served simultaneously as President and CEO of the New York City Partnership, which was founded by David Rockefeller, and the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he worked with more than 200 CEOs to enhance the economy of New York City. His subsequent ventures have included starting and serving as CEO of B2BStreet.com, an Internet company that served as a business-to-business auction site for overstock. He was Vice Chairman of Burson Marsteller, and became co-owner of an executive search firm. He lives in New York City with his wife, June, and their two children.

Ron Shelp is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and President of Exhibitions International. He has been a frequent contributor to op-ed pages, written a book for the Council, Beyond Industrialization, and contributed to Foreign Policy magazine. The art collection that he and his wife, June, have compiled over the years has been on a national museum tour and is the subject of the book Testimony: Vernacular Art of the African American South.

Today, Shelp continues to offer invaluable solutions to the problems leaders and managers at all levels face today. With the style of a born storyteller, Shelp offers insight into what CEOs and managers can learn from the strategies AIG used to establish its successful global franchise; how AIG provided real meaning to the term "diversity" in its management practices; and the governance challenges that organizations face as they expand their enterprises globally.