Utica First Insurance Company readies for leadership transition

UTICA, N.Y. — Utica First Insurance Company will have a new president and CEO when the calendar turns to 2026. Ryan Fleming will succeed retiring president and CEO Scott Shatraw. The firm announced Fleming’s appointment on Sept. 16. Fleming joined Utica First Insurance in 2024 as VP of marketing and agencies and has “demonstrated his ability to lead the company into the future, advancing its vision and promoting its core values.” Prior to joining Utica First, he worked at The Travelers Indemnity Company. His responsibilities have included working with the marketing team to increase brand awareness, building strong relationships with key industry partners, retail agents, and wholesalers, and enhancing the agent/broker experience. He has more than 25 years of insurance industry leadership experience, with a niche in sales and marketing. “Utica First has an incredibly strong 122-year tradition of putting our agents, brokers, and customers first,” Fleming said in the announcement. “I’m honored and enthusiastic about continuing to build on that legacy with an emphasis on personal service, innovation, and collaboration.” Fleming earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marquette University. Shatraw was appointed Utica First’s president and CEO in 2018. He joined the company in 1990 as controller and subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility, including senior vice president and CFO. “Ryan’s business acumen, industry knowledge, and agent/broker and customer focus have already made a tremendous impact on Utica First,” Shatraw said in the announcement. “He’s ideally suited to continue to grow the company as President and CEO while providing the best possible service and products to all of our partners and customers.” Under Shatraw’s leadership over the past seven years, Utica First has “successfully anticipated customer needs while achieving profitable growth,” the company said. Utica First Insurance Company has more than 100 employees, 100,000 written policies, and agents in nine states.