“I am attracted to several new ventures and want the freedom to openly consider them starting my own public policy management firm, leading another organization, taking a position in government, serving on corporate boards, perhaps even signing on with a D.C. lobbying or law firm,” Mr. Vagley said.

“Moreover, and more importantly, I want to assist my wife, Holly, who set aside a promising Broadway and musical theater career to move to Washington when we married,” he said. “Since 9/11, she has turned her talents to composing, recording and performing contemporary, faith-based music and is about to complete her first CD. I look forward to supporting her as she has so unselfishly helped me with my career.”

Mr. Vagley joined AIA in 1986. In his letter to the board, he noted that he was brought in to restore AIA to preeminence in the insurance industry. “This fine old institution had lost its luster and was in a somewhat precarious state,” he said. Since then, he said, AIA has become one of the most renowned and effective trade associations among all U.S. industries.

“It has been a great run,” Mr. Vagley said.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Edition, April 9, 2004. Copyright 2004 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.