BANGOR — Cross Insurance, one of the largest independent insurance providers in the Northeast, is proud to announce that Royce Cross, chair of Cross Insurance, has been selected as the recipient of The Insurance Library’s 2024 Insurance Professional of the Year Award. This esteemed accolade will be presented by Sonya Ross, President and Board Chair of the Insurance Library, during a gala luncheon scheduled for Oct. 4 at the InterContinental Boston.
Established in 2001 through the Richard B. Simches Fund, the Insurance Professional of the Year Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to the insurance industry. Cross’s illustrious career spans over five decades, during which he has played a pivotal role in shaping Cross Insurance into one of New England’s largest insurance providers. Under his leadership, Cross Insurance has expanded with over 1,100 employees in more than 50 offices across the Northeast region, servicing a diverse clientele from individuals to large corporations and professional sports teams.
“This nomination is very much about my father and his contribution to the business,” remarked Jonathan Cross, CEO of Cross Insurance, “At the heart of this legendary adventure is a man that loves his business, loves this industry and is at his best when he’s doing a deal. For several years now I have challenged others in the industry to find me someone else that loves this business more than my father, and so far, nobody has yet to find one.”
Royce Cross began his journey at Cross Insurance in 1970, working alongside his father Woodrow Cross, and has since overseen significant growth and development within the agency. His contributions include pioneering mergers and acquisitions that have bolstered Cross Insurance’s market presence and influence.
Other endeavors advanced by Cross include securing the naming rights for Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center and Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Most recently, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts announced a naming rights agreement for its preeminent event day hospitality club. Cross Insurance, a long-time partner of Kraft Sports and Entertainment and Gillette Stadium, has become the title sponsor of the Cross Insurance Club.
The Oct. 4 gala will feature a networking hour, silent auction, luncheon, and the award ceremony, providing a platform to celebrate Royce Cross’s achievements and honor his profound impact on the insurance community.
Founded in 1954, Cross Insurance has grown from a small, family-owned, and operated insurance agency based in Bangor into one of the largest insurance providers in the Northeast. Still family-owned and operated, Cross Insurance provides an extensive range of insurance products including personal and commercial insurance lines, employee benefits, surety bonds, comprehensive risk management services, and specialized products focused on higher education and high net worth needs. For more information about Cross Insurance, please visit www.crossagency.com.
The Insurance Library Association of Boston is a nonprofit organization founded in 1887. It is the country’s first, and only remaining, independent library dedicated solely to the subject of insurance. The library has a unique collection of print and digital insurance-related resources, including treatises, periodicals, hard-to-find policy forms, a rare collection of A.M. Best Reports going back to 1900, and many insurance artifacts and memorabilia. For more information on the event, including sponsorship opportunities and ticket reservations, please visit the Insurance Library’s website at The Insurance Library Association of Boston, www.insurancelibrary.org.
