James W. Crystal

James W. Crystal is chairman and CEO of Crystal & Company, one of the largest privately owned insurance brokerages in the United States. The firm was founded in 1933, and having celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2013 under Mr. Crystal’s direction, ranks among the top five percent of insurance brokerage firms worldwide, serving over 9,500 clients from its corporate New York headquarters, together with offices in California, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

Known as an industry expert, with more than 40 years of insurance experience, Mr. Crystal is thoroughly knowledgeable of the insurance needs for a broad spectrum of American business and industry. He has built a client roster for the firm that includes some of the country’s foremost stock brokerage houses, investment banking firms, and commercial banks, along with Fortune ranked companies.

In addition, Crystal & Company ranks as one of the larger aviation brokers, numbering among its clients airlines, engine repair facilities, leasing companies, and airframe manufacturers, in addition to other components of the Aviation insurance industry. The company is diverse and acts in all areas of insurance as well as on behalf of in excess of 25% of the members of the New York Stock Exchange and in excess of 50% of the Hedge Fund industry.

As a member of the community, Mr. Crystal serves as a vice chairman, trustee and member of the executive and finance committees, and co-chairman of the audit committee of Mt. Sinai Medical Center. He also serves on the boards of Stewart & Stevenson LLC, Ennia Caribe Holding NA, Global Indemnity PLC, and K2 Global Consulting, and as chairman of the audit committee of Stewart & Stevenson and Ennia Carbie Holding NA. He is a member of the National Association of Casualty and Surety Agents.