Talent is the foundation of industry success. Our Shin Research Emerging Talent Trends, funded by Kyobo Life Insurance Company,
provides a global perspective on workforce evolution across the insurance sector. The study highlights shifting employment patterns,
projected role growth, and the critical skills required to sustain the industry’s future in an era defined by digital transformation
and demographic change.
The insurance industry stands at a pivotal inflection point. While overall employment is expected to grow over the next decade,
traditional functions are projected to contract, and advances in AI and automation will have the most profound impact on the
industry’s trajectory and evolving skill set requirements. To build a future-ready workforce, organizations face mounting pressure
to manage talent more strategically amid the convergence of technological disruption, socio-economic shifts, and changing employee
expectations. Leading companies are leveraging advanced people analytics to better understand engagement drivers and to cultivate
workplace cultures that attract, retain, and inspire top talent.
At the same time, boardrooms are redefining their view of talent management. Once centered primarily on CEO succession, boards now
view workforce strategy as integral to organizational resilience, innovation, and inclusion. Through the lens of executive experts,
this content explores leadership and workforce priorities—building a culture of leadership and accountability, recruiting the next
generation of talent, retaining and engaging employees across both traditional and emerging roles, upskilling and reskilling for a
digital, data-driven future, and cultivating mentorship and purpose-driven leadership.
Together, these insights will help guide boards and executives in shaping a resilient, innovative, and globally competitive insurance
workforce for the future.
Jeffrey Blair
Senior Vice President of Executive Search and Business Development
The Jacobson Group
Jeff Blair is the Senior Vice President of Executive Search and Business Development for The Jacobson Group. In this role, Jeff provides leadership and strategic direction to the firm’s executive search practice, which provides executive search and selection consulting for insurance leadership positions across all disciplines. Jeff is also an integral part of Jacobson’s Senior Leadership Team and is accountable for directing corporate-wide initiatives to generate the continued growth and development of the entire organization.
Jeff’s background includes more than 15 years in the insurance industry and more than 10 years in premier global consulting and executive search. Leveraging this experience, Jeff brings a distinguished history of enterprise leadership, strategic management and organizational development expertise to his role at Jacobson. He has played pivotal roles in establishing and leading new business units within executive search firms, driving revenue growth and client success through strategic planning and innovative sales approaches. Notably, Jeff’s leadership in global managed services and digital sales has resulted in the successful structuring and staffing of high-performing client delivery teams, exceeding targets, and securing beta clients to establish the viability of new digital products in the market.
With a strong track record of launching new products, securing key partnerships and driving sales growth in competitive markets, Jeff’s accomplishments are propelled by an impressive strategic vision and sharp business acumen. He is passionate about driving transformation, improving organizational performance, developing talent and culture, and building trusted stakeholder relationships to help organizations and individuals thrive in dynamic environments.
Jeff received his Master of Science in Informational Technology from Drexel University, his MBA in risk management from Temple University, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Drexel University. He holds an Executive Leadership Program certificate from Saint Joeseph’s University and has earned a Competitive Marketing Strategy certificate from Columbia University.
THE JACOBSON GROUP
The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. For more than 50 years,
Jacobson has been connecting organizations with insurance professionals at all levels across all industry
verticals. Jacobson provides insurance talent solutions to support virtually any human capital need.
We offer executive search services and comprehensive staffing solutions, including professional recruiting,
temporary staffing and interim experts. Further information is available at jacobsongroup.com.
Jeff Black
Senior Vice President
The Jacobson Group
Jeff Black is Senior Vice President of Sales at The Jacobson Group, the leading provider of executive search and staffing services for the insurance industry. In this role, he drives growth, business development and strategic partnerships within Jacobson’s temporary staffing and professional recruiting service lines. As a member of the firm's Senior Leadership Team, Jeff also contributes to shaping the organization's strategic direction while fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve growth objectives.
With more than 15 years of experience in professional services, recruiting and staffing, Jeff brings valuable expertise to serve the unique staffing needs of the insurance industry. His impressive background includes proven success in team leadership, market development and relationship management across major metropolitan markets. Prior to joining Jacobson, Jeff served as Director of Sales at Eliassen Group, where he led significant market expansion throughout the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia regions, growing revenue and tripling consultant placements. Previously, he spent more than a decade at Randstad Technologies, advancing from Technical Recruiter to Account Management and Managing Director roles. As Managing Director of what was one of the organization's flagship offices in New York City, he led strategic growth initiatives while consistently ranking among the organization’s top performers.
Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W.Va.
THE JACOBSON GROUP
The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. For more than 50 years,
Jacobson has been connecting organizations with insurance professionals at all levels across all industry
verticals. Jacobson provides insurance talent solutions to support virtually any human capital need.
We offer executive search services and comprehensive staffing solutions, including professional recruiting,
temporary staffing and interim experts. Further information is available at jacobsongroup.com.
Corey Pinkham
President
The Jacobson Group
Corey Pinkham is President of The Jacobson Group, the leading provider of executive search and staffing services for the insurance industry. In this role, he leads the organization’s staffing services, encompassing professional recruiting, interim experts and temporary staffing, and oversees several of the firm’s key corporate functions including human resources, operations, IT and legal services. He is also an integral member of Jacobson’s Senior Leadership Team and plays a significant role in the firm’s future development and growth.
A relationship-focused leader, Corey is committed to providing outstanding client service and creatively and strategically meeting their organizations’ unique needs. His impressive background spans all areas of talent acquisition, including recruitment optimization, sales and fulfillment, account management, and more. Previously, Corey oversaw all recruiting for Jacobson’s staffing services, along with client expansion efforts for the professional recruiting team. Prior to joining Jacobson, he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility at Randstad Technologies, formerly serving as Senior Vice President of Recruiting. In this role, he provided executive leadership to a global team of more than 150. He also oversaw all capacity planning and recruiting strategy across 26 markets, in partnership with his recruiting leadership team and sales executives.
Corey earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in business management from Salem State University in Salem, Mass.
THE JACOBSON GROUP
The Jacobson Group is the leading provider of talent to the insurance industry. For more than 50 years, Jacobson has been connecting organizations with insurance professionals at all levels across all industry verticals. Jacobson provides insurance talent solutions to support virtually any human capital need. We offer executive search services and comprehensive staffing solutions, including professional recruiting, temporary staffing and interim experts. Further information is available at jacobsongroup.com.
Ralph Mucerino
Principal
RPM Strategy and Management Consulting LLX
Ralph Mucerino began his professional insurance career with The Travelers and joined AIG in 1979. He held several roles in the Domestic Brokerage Group earlier in his career including Senior Vice President of Commerce & Industry and Senior Vice President of American Home and National Union where he was responsible for several business units and operations, including field operations and IT. Ralph’s ensuing career encompassed a wide range of roles in both consumer and commercial insurance, including multiple regional management roles for domestic and overseas businesses, multiple product manager roles in commercial and consumer insurance, multiple leadership roles in distribution, marketing and client management and leadership positions in reengineering of AIG’s overseas businesses.
During his distinguished forty-one-year career with American International group, Ralph led multiple diverse businesses which highlighted his leadership, vision, creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. In 1996, he assumed the CEO role for the Africa-Middle East Region. He then relocated to Japan, where he served as President of the Far East Region, AIG’s largest general insurance operation outside of the United States. In 2002, upon his return from Japan, Ralph was appointed CEO of AIG Global Energy and, in 2006, for the combined AIG Global Marine and Energy Division. In November 2008, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of AIU for the company’s international businesses. In 2011, Ralph was appointed Head of Distribution for General Insurance, globally. This was followed by appointments as President of the Consumer Lines business for the Americas and President of AIG Partnerships and sponsorships for Accident and Health business from 2014 until his retirement in October of 2020.
Mr. Mucerino retired in October of 2020 as Senior Vice President of AIG.
Talent & Leadership