Higginbotham announced the promotion of long-time executive team member and former Chief Operating Officer, Personal Insurance Mary Russell to the position of President, Private Client Services.
This move marks the final division of the president title that Higginbotham Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid has held since 1989 into three separate division titles, with Chris Rooker as President, Business Insurance; Michael Parks as President, Financial Services and Employee Benefits; and Mary Russell as President, Private Client Services.
In her new role as president, Russell will provide top executive coordination while overseeing operations throughout the division, leading a dedicated team that serves more than 44,000 individual clients across the 17-state Higginbothamfootprint.
In 2013, Russell received Safeco’s Personal Achievement Award and was named Travelers’ Personal Insurance Agent of the Year. In 2016, the Private Risk Management Association (PRMA) honored her with the JoAnn Heltibridle Award, which annually recognizes one insurance professional who stands for passionate industry support and client service excellence. In 2019, Russell was named a Great Woman of Texas by the Fort Worth Business Press.
Russell holds Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Certified Private Risk and Insurance Advisor (CPRIA) designations. In 2022, Russell earned a Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation through Chubb Personal Risk Services in partnership with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.