Insurance Communication Specialists

We've built one of the strongest and most well-respected insurance communication practices in the country by focusing on partnerships and strategic solutions. Our carefully crafted public relations strategies fit the unique needs of our clients, whether they want to build their reputations, raise awareness of a product, service or issue, or influence public opinion. These customized strategies integrate media relations, thought leadership, reputation management and branded content development.

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Insurance specialists
An Elite Agency of
Insurance Insiders

Since our founding in 1995, our team has led thousands of public relations campaigns in North America, the United Kingdom and beyond for insurance carriers, MGAs, brokers, program administrators, leading trade associations and technology firms serving the industry. Not only do we have strong relationships with key insurance and national business media, we also have critical insurance knowledge and insider experience. With years spent as business reporters, trade journalists and within corporate PR departments at Fortune 500 insurance companies, we speak the industry language and tap into our expertise to advise on complex issues affecting the insurance industry.

Read our recent article on communicating in a crisis in PC360
Case Studies

A little name recognition goes a long way

The challenge

ReSource Pro had only been in business for two years when it approached Kimball Hughes Public Relations in 2005. The company began as a novel start-up offering a much-needed solution to back office operations for insurance program administrators, brokers, agencies and carriers. They had solid metrics in place to demonstrate a healthy return on investment for clients. But two years in, what they didn’t have was name recognition or industry awareness.

A little name recognition goes a long way
The solution

Kimball Hughes Public Relations began by sharing the ReSource Pro story with leading insurance industry media that served their market, focusing on the company’s expertise and service offerings. The company and its media profile grew. The CEO became a regular contributor to industry media and featured in broad management and business trend stories for media outlets that include HumanResourceIQ.com, Chief Learning Officer magazine and Forbes.

In 2013, Inc. magazine included ReSource Pro in its 500|5000 list citing the company’s 122 percent revenue growth over three years, and annual revenue of $24.3 million. From its Manhattan headquarters, ReSource Pro now manages more than 1,200 employees on two continents and serves hundreds of insurance industry clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. And Kimball Hughes Public Relations is still their trusted PR partner.

New media tactics secure traditional media coverage

The challenge

The Sandy Hook shooting in December 2012 and the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013 brought the role of private security into a national debate. We realized Brownyard Group, provider of specialized insurance for security guards, could provide a valuable perspective on the prevention of further tragedy.

New media tactics secure traditional media coverage
The solution

Kimball Hughes Public Relations worked with Brownyard, a longtime client, to provide thought leadership on arming security guards in schools and the need for more security. Kimball Hughes garnered features for Brownyard Group in eight insurance trade and leading security magazines, such as American Agent and Broker and Security Management Weekly.

At the same time, municipal budget cuts were creating a need for more private security guards, so Kimball Hughes created an Infographic with relevant statistical data. The infographic not only not increased engagement on social media, but also led to a feature article in Security Magazine.

Small contest yields big results

The challenge

SASSI, the Salon and Spa Specialty Insurance Program from Brownyard Group, serves a diverse customer base of salons, spas, barbershops, beauty schools and independent contractors. Traditional insurance marketing and public relations tactics do not always reach these small, independent businesses. SASSI had already retained Kimball Hughes PR to reach their audiences with useful content through social media and blogging, as well as media relations aimed at the trade media—but they wanted to do more.

Small contest yields big results
The solution

We saw an opportunity: a web-based contest that could create content and improve engagement to invigorate current social media, blog and media relations strategies. Collaborating with the SASSI marketing team, we planned a contest—SASSI Salon Secrets—that asked salons and spas to share their recipes for success. Twenty-six salons and spas responded with stories, photos and videos that told rich stories.

Working with the winners and immediate runners-up, we were able to turn those stories into valuable public relations and social media content. The contest was used to fuel trade and consumer media coverage for six months, boost SASSI’s social media following and efficiently create six months of original blog content that resonated with the appropriate audiences. In short, the contest did what public relations brand content is best at—it supported relationships.

Thought leadership builds necessary awareness for international risk consortium

The challenge

When a consortium of international risk management experts announced the launch a risk mitigation, crisis response and insurance program led by Beazley Syndicate at Lloyd’s, they needed to raise awareness of both the program and their unique expertise in guiding and protecting operations in hostile or complex environments.

Thought leadership builds necessary awareness for international risk consortium
The solution

Beginning with the initial launch of the Hostile Environment Liability Protection (HELP) program in January 2015, Kimball Hughes Public Relations combined aggressive outreach in insurance trade media with a targeted thought leadership program aimed at decision makers in the vertical industries it serves. We also created branded content for the program’s website, which served as the primary portal to HELP and its international team of experts.

The result was ongoing and meaningful coverage in leading insurance media and critical thought leadership in media serving oil & gas exploration, logistics, security and government contracting industries. More importantly, as international and domestic terror took center stage in 2015, awareness of HELP as a unique and comprehensive solution for organizations operating in these complex and hostile environments drove strong premium growth.

Our Leadership Team

Agency Founder Gary Kimball, President Rod Hughes and Vice President Eileen Coyne bring a unique mix of insurance industry communications experience.

Gary Kimball
Gary Kimball

Founded the agency nearly 25 years ago. A financial services and insurance sector veteran leading strategic PR and crisis communications efforts.

Rod Hughes
Rod Hughes

Made the leap from Editor of legal and insurance trades to PR pro representing businesses in both industries.

Eileen Coyne
Eileen Coyne

Served as account manager leading an agency’s largest account, Travelers, and worked in corporate communications at Nationwide.

Kimball Hughes PR has been our public relations agency since 2009 and has provided tremendous insight, advice and results. Everyone on the Kimball team is professional and responsive.

Diane Nafranowicz, Manager of Communications, PMA Companies
Better outcomes start here.
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