Profile
Jo Ann Peri is area president at Risk Placement Services (RPS) Cowles & Connell.
As the owner of MGA Cowles & Connell before it was acquired by RPS in 2014, she led the firm with entrepreneurial drive and deep technical and operational understanding. She takes particular pride in the fact that many of those colleagues continue to work with RPS today, a testament to the culture of loyalty, accountability, and shared purpose that she helped to create.
Her biggest challenge to deal with is no longer being the sole decision-maker. “Having previously owned a company, I was used to solving problems directly and moving quickly. Thankfully, I’m supported by a strong team of leaders at RPS who collaborate closely and are always there to help move things forward.”
From the beginning, her career has been shaped less by seizing opportunities, investing in people, and learning the business from the ground up. That willingness to “do the work well, build trust, and stay open to what came next” has defined a trajectory that now places her among the industry’s most respected female leaders.
Today, in her leadership role at RPS, Peri brings the perspective of someone who has “worn many hats” across multiple aspects of the business. That breadth of experience allows her to see situations from different angles and make decisions that are both commercially sharp and practically grounded. It is this holistic view – combining the lens of an owner, a broker, and a team leader – that sets her apart.
Her strongest professional quality is simple but powerful: honesty. In an industry built on risk, promises, and long-term commitments, Peri’s straightforward, transparent approach has been a cornerstone of her relationship-first mindset, which has proved successful.
She says, “The work is important, but it only really works if you have trust and genuine connections with the people you work with every day. Without that, there’s nothing solid to build on.”
Having once moved quickly as an owner, she now thrives by collaborating with a strong leadership team, leveraging collective expertise to move the business forward.
And as a woman who began her career when there were far fewer female leaders in insurance, Peri has had to find her voice in environments where it wasn’t always expected. She learned to speak up when it mattered and to let the quality of her work speak for itself. Now recognized as one of IBA’s Elite Women 2026, she embraces the responsibility to be a visible example for others, actively supporting women who want to succeed in wholesale broking or chart their own path.
Looking ahead, Peri is focused on increasing the number of women in leadership and on building teams where people feel empowered, hold each other accountable, and collaborate consistently. That is the legacy she aims to leave: an industry culture that is stronger, more inclusive, and built on the same principles that have defined her own elite performance.
2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
866 595 8413
RPS.Marcomm@RPSins.com
linkedin.com/in/jo-ann-peri-88450b12
RPSins.com
Jo Ann Peri
Area President
Risk Placement Services
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Bio
Milestones
Profile
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Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
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Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
1988
1995
2014
2017–2019
Present
Joined the insurance industry
1988
Started Cowles & Connell
1995
Joined RPS when Cowles & Connell was acquired
2014
Named RPS Branch Manager of the Year
2017–2019
Board Member, Excess Lines Association of New York
Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
She continually assesses strategy, aligning talent, technology, and capital with Fortegra’s future vision. By helping people understand the value of their work, Taylor drives engagement and fosters a culture where everyone sees themselves as a builder of the company’s future.
With respect to her impact at Fortegra, she adds, “I enjoy taking on operational challenges that enable our underwriting, actuarial, and finance professionals to focus on their core priorities, ultimately delivering meaningful value to Fortegra's partners and stakeholders.”
Three themes anchor her approach to both role and career:
commitment to continuous learning
focus on serving the enterprise and adding tangible value
alignment with companies whose values mirror her own
Recognized by Insurance Business as an Elite Woman 2026, Taylor is aware of the importance of visibility and representation. In a sector where senior female role models remain limited, she has chosen to see barriers as an invitation to chart her own course.
Through mentorship, active participation in networks of women C-suite leaders, and initiatives like Fortegra’s Network of Women (N.O.W.) program, she is helping build clearer pathways, stronger support systems, and broader possibilities for the next generation.
“If my experience can help someone navigate their path with more confidence or clarity, then recognition like this becomes much more meaningful,” she says. “My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher.”
“My goal is to help create a cycle where every generation of leaders lifts the next one higher”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra
“This type of work energizes me because, like many of us at Fortegra, I’m a business builder at heart”
Abbie Taylor,
Fortegra