Standing apart in the high-net-worth life insurance market, Verve is the first Black-owned, Black-controlled, and Black-led U.S. taxpayer life insurance company in operation since the cessation of North Carolina Mutual in 2018.  Verve is led by Chairman & CEO Jerry W. Hester, II, CLU®, a life insurance industry luminary and a former professional athlete. 

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“Verve is an empowerment brand that recognizes the face of wealth is rapidly evolving to include historically underserved communities,” said Jerry.  “Increasingly, women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ high-net-worth individuals and their institutional advisors are in the driver’s seat when it comes to making investment decisions, and now there is a life insurance company attuned to this.  Throughout my years as a successful producer, it was evident that very few people looked like me in the life insurance industry -- at the carriers or anywhere in the distribution process.  It became important to me to form an insurance company that was as diverse as the clients Verve will serve.”

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Andy Man, Chairman and founder of Apeiron International, is a Verve co-founder and serves as Vice Chairman and Director.  Andy’s career includes decades of experience in leading tax-exempt organizations as well as multi-jurisdiction life insurance distribution entities.  “Verve’s ability to deliver tax-efficient investment solutions, combined with the company’s inclusivity, aligns perfectly with the direction of the affluent investor.  I look forward to helping grow Verve into a leading private placement insurer.”

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An industry first, Verve’s entire shareholder base, leadership team, and external advisors consist entirely of individuals who are women, people of color, and/or identify as LGBTQ+.   “Verve is proof that diversity and inclusion matter, and can drive an organization’s success,” said Jonathan Man, a co-founder of Verve.  “We’re excited to bring our diverse experiences together in this new venture to provide exceptional service to our policyholders and partners.”

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Life Insurance Strategies Group, LLC’s consulting unit led the formation and operational readiness of Verve.  Verve is advised by Deloitte, Chancery Chambers, Strategic Risk Solutions, and First Caribbean Bank.

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About Jerry W. Hester, II, CLU®

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Jerry W. Hester, II, CLU® is the co-founder, Chairman & CEO of Verve.  Jerry focuses on creative risk management strategies, including the application of private placement life insurance solutions, to assist individuals, families, and institutions in protecting and building wealth efficiently.  He founded Verve International Insurance Ltd. to offer policyholders the choice of an insurance company that looks and operates differently than others in the high-net-worth market.

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Jerry received his degree in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he was the team captain and team MVP of the university’s 1998 Big Ten Championship basketball team and earned All-Big Ten Honors.  This was followed by a six-year career as a professional athlete playing in Europe on various teams from Poland, Israel, England, and Serbia.

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Jerry is a Foundation Member for the University of Illinois Foundation and a Board member of the University of Illinois College of LAS Alumni Association.  He is a former member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association Board of Directors and served as Midwest regional board member for Operation Hope.  Jerry is a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®).

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About Andy Man, CPA®, MBA

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Andrade “Andy” Man is a co-founder and Vice Chairman of Verve.  Andy is the Chairman and founder of Apeiron International, a leading global master distributor and general agent for international life insurance products for the high-net-worth market. Previously, Andy served as Regional Director for Asia, Healthcare & Affinity for AON PLC with responsibility for the development and management of healthcare and affinity insurance business for 11 countries in the Asia region. Prior to Aon, Andy served as Managing Director at Harvard Medical International and Executive Director at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

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Andy is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, and holds an MBA from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Mr. Man holds a Certified Public Accountant certificate in California and Washington. 

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About Jonathan Man, MBA, JD

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Jonathan Man, co-founder of Verve, is an experienced entrepreneur with experience structuring and advising on complex international transactions and investments. Jonathan is the co-founder of Drumlin Capital Management, LLC, an asset manager that provides structured finance solutions across the global natural resources sector, including metals and mining, agriculture, and environmental commodities. Prior to Drumlin, Jonathan was a corporate attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he advised private equity firms on multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, divestitures, investments, and other matters. Jonathan serves as an advisor to Apeiron International, and previously served as Apeiron’s Vice President. 

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Jonathan holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, a JD from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences from Harvard University.

 

Media inquiries should be made to info@verveinsurancegroup.com.