Ron Shelp
- Author of Fallen Giant: The Amazing Story of Hank Greenberg and the History of AIG
- Former AIG executive responsible for government relations and international affairs
- Private equity executive
- Filmmaker, New York civic leader, art collector and supporter of the dramatic arts
- Speaker and news commentator
The author of Fallen Giant: The Amazing Story of Hank Greenberg and the History of AIG, Ron Shelp is one of the leading experts on "the company America loves to hate." Over the past several years, he has spoken to business groups throughout the U.S. and Europe about AIG's role in the global financial meltdown and the subsequent twists and turns that have kept the company in the headlines. Shelp's media appearances have included CNN, BBC, CNBC, Fox, NPR, and other news outlets. His March 4th Op-Ed in the Asian Wall Street Journal was the most emailed article on the site.
For 12 years Shelp held a number of senior positions at AIG reporting directly to the company's legendary CEO, Hank Greenberg. He became worldwide head of government relations, led AIG's corporate communications and advertising, and eventually evolved into a global troubleshooter dealing with issues ranging from AIG's re-entry into China to the Iranian revolution in 1979 to nationalization in India. He served on the board of American International Underwriters Corporation (AIUC) and other AIG subsidiary boards.
Shelp left AIG to join the Management Committee of Celanese Corporation. He later served as President and CEO of the New York City Partnership (now Partnership for New York City) and the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 2011 he began two new ventures: he co-founded a private equity firm and started work on a documentary film. Shelp is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves or has served on the boards of numerous arts and education organizations.
Ron and his wife, June, have an extensive collection of art from the South, the subject of the book Testimony: Vernacular Art of the African American South, which has exhibited throughout the country. They have donated pieces to numerous museums such as the Newark Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Shelp, a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, received his baccalaureate from the University of Georgia and pursued doctoral studies at the London School of Economics.
Today, Ron Shelp continues to offer invaluable solutions to the problems leaders and managers at all levels face today. He comments regularly about Hank Greenberg and AIG on Greenberg Watch, his blog on Forbes.com, and is a favorite resource for journalists looking for insights into AIG.