Liberty Mutual Insurance has promoted Damon Hart to chief legal officer, succeeding Jim Kelleher, who is retiring after nearly four decades at the Boston company.
Damon Hart, executive vice president and chief legal officer of Liberty Mutual Insurance. (Courtesy photo) Hart, who also is assuming the title executive vice president, is taking the legal reins after serving as deputy chief legal counsel since 2020. He joined Liberty Mutual in 2014 after serving as a partner at three national law firms—Littler Mendelson, Ogletree Deakins and Holland and Knight—where he focused on litigation and employment matters.
Kelleher had been chief legal officer for nine years. CEO David Long said Kelleher left an indelible mark on the company and the insurance industry. He praised his pro bono work, dedication to nonprofits and commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion.
Liberty Mutual is the world's sixth-largest property-and-casualty insurer and has 45,000 employees in 29 countries.
Long said Hart will "excel at spearheading our global legal practice, continually working in the best interest of our policyholders, partners and employees."
Liberty said Hart is active in Liberty's employee resource groups, coaches youth sports and mentors rising professionals. He is also a founding member of The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund—a coalition of Black and Brown executives in Massachusetts working to address and eliminate systemic racism and racial inequity.
Hart is also on the Board of Directors of The Home for Little Wanderers and the New England Legal Foundation.
Trudy Knockless
Trudy Knockless is a reporter on ALM Media's Business of Law desk. She has a background serving legal and insurance publications. Contact her at [email protected] or on LinkedIn at Trudy Knockless.