TAMPA (Oct. 21, 2014) — Franklin Street has hired Tom Kersting as President of Insurance Services. In this role, Kersting will be responsible for the operational and financial performance as well as business development for the division – overseeing a portfolio that insures more than $10 billion in property values. He will be based out of the firm’s Tampa office.
Prior to joining Franklin Street, Kersting worked for Aon Risk Services of London (AON), where he furthered his experience in middle market risk management, leading broking teams in the design of loss sensitive insurance solutions for companies ranging in revenues from $25 million to $1 billion. His project work and clientele were diverse, exposing him to complex placements for property portfolios up to 14 million square feet of office, medical, and multifamily real estate among several other types of clients ranging from private and public companies, trusts, cooperative marketing organizations, private equity, institutional management, and self-insured funds.
Andrew Wright, Franklin Street’s CEO, believes Kersting’s background in both regional and national brokerages will be valuable as the company’s Insurance Services division continues to expand toward being a coast to coast service provider.
“Tom is an ideal match for our company culture, said Wright. “His energy and drive make him the perfect candidate to lead our insurance team into new markets and replicate our current success.”
With agents currently in Tampa, Atlanta and South Florida, Kersting plans to duplicate and expand the current model into other markets throughout the Southeast and beyond.
“Franklin Street is in a prime position for growth and has a unique platform allowing us to attract and cultivate young and driven professionals looking to build a successful career,” said Kersting. “The company’s brand is becoming more and more recognizable in the industry and we’re involved in significant placements across the country. Additionally, our property management division provides us the opportunity to offer products that other agents cannot offer.”
In 2011, several national brokerage houses became interested in Kersting, due in part to his significant client base in Agribusiness. The majority of Kersting’s business was in representing Florida produce growers, harvesters, packers, and haulers. “As a native Floridian with a love for the outdoors, these are clients that I naturally gravitated to when I was new to the insurance business.” He was recognized annually as a top producer for the Lykes agency and by the insurance markets. He has had the opportunity to consult for several of the largest multi-national growers and produce labels in the world. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Agribusiness from the University of Florida and is a dedicated member of his community, giving his time and resources to groups like the Children’s Home and Ronald McDonald House, to name a few.
About Franklin Street: Franklin Street is a family of real estate companies focused on delivering value-added solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Through a collaborative philosophy of leveraging the resources, expertise, and experience of each of its divisions—Real Estate, Capital, Insurance and Management—Franklin Street offers unmatched value and optimal solutions for clients nationwide. For more information on Franklin Street, please see the company’s website at FranklinSt.com.
