International specialty insurance firm, Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc., has announced the appointment of Francesca Cornelli, Dean of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, to its Board of Directors, where she will also serve as a member of its Audit Committee, effective July 31st, 2023.
Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented, “We are excited to welcome Francesca to Ryan Specialty’s Board of Directors. Francesca’s knowledge and extensive background in international finance, corporate governance and private equity markets will provide a global perspective to our firm.
“Further, not only is Francesca the Dean of Kellogg, she is a professor of finance, holds the Donald P. Jacobs Chair of Finance at the school, and brings with her highly relevant board experience. We are looking forward to embracing Francesca’s contributions to our Board and Ryan Specialty as a whole.”
Cornelli has served as the Dean of Kellogg School of Management since 2019. Previously, she was a professor of finance and deputy dean at London Business School.
She has directed and advanced the Private Equity Institute of London Business School, bridging the gap between academia and practice by partnering with private equity leaders in London, alumni and top academics in the field.
Additionally, Cornelli has published several papers in major finance and economics journals. She is a research fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and previously served as a director of the American Finance Association.
In January 2016, Cornelli helped create and became a board member of AFFECT, a committee of the American Finance Association designed to promote the advancement of women academics in the field of finance.
Specific to insurance, Cornelli has previously served on the board of Swiss Re International and Swiss Re Europe from 2013 to 2019. She serves on several boards, including Edizione, GSM Grosvenor Inc., GCP, Civic Consulting Alliance, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Cornelli said, “I am excited to join the Board of Ryan Specialty. The firm is in a high-growth phase with many different opportunities in front of it, and I have always had a special interest in the insurance sector. I’m looking forward to working alongside the esteemed Board members, particularly during this very challenging macroeconomic cycle, to guide and advise this dynamic firm.”
