About the Author

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 he was recruited to AIG by Hank Greenberg, CEO, and Jimmy Manton, Chairman of American International Underwriters Corporation (AIUC).

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. 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.

Speech topics:

• The Amazing History of AIG
  The history of AIG is really a tale of four stories. It begins in 1919 with the story of Cornelius v. Starr, who hopped a tanker to Shanghai and started what became a worldwide empire; second, it’s the story of a company and a group of individuals who understand and are committed to China; third, it is the story of Hank Greenberg, who rose through the ranks of AIG and built it into a mammoth global empire; and finally, it is the story of a unique corporate culture that led to sixty years of phenomenal success - but also led to Greenberg’s fall from grace in 2005.
  Watch an excerpt of Ron Shelp's Speech to New York's Rotary Club and the University of Georgia.
  
  
• The Global Entrepreneur: Lessons from AIG Founder C. V. Starr
  AIG founder Cornelius Vander Starr was a Horatio Alger-like figure who defied American business customs of his time by founding his company in China and “building backwards” to create an empire and a fortune. Good for entrepreneurs.
  
  
• The Art of Negotiating with Foreign Governments
  AIG is renowned for its success in government relations. Shelp will discuss his experience from negotiating with governments around the world.
  
  
• Managing the CEO Relationship
  Shelp will discuss strategies for managing the Boss, based on his experiences at AIG, Celanese, and CEO organization New York City Partnership.
  
  
• Future of Global Financial Capitals
  London and New York are vying for the title of “The World’s Number One Financial Capital”. Does being “Number One” matter? What qualities do these cities share? What sets them apart? Will London and New York lose their premier positions to Shanghai, Mumbai, and Dubai? These questions are explored in a presentation accompanied by slides and informative handouts.
  

Click here to engage Ron as a speaker at business meetings, seminars, and conferences.