Profile
“Being true to who we are is key; we are purely a referral-based business. There is zero marketing or advertising”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
As executive vice president, senior operations manager for Alliant Insurance Services’ Americas East region, Catherine Pipitone has contributed to its growth from $30 million in revenue and 50 employees to over $140 million revenue and 360 employees, with 15 percent growth rate in 2024. She has built an operations team to execute efficiently on all projects and supports all segments of the business.
Beginning her career in the 1980s insurance industry in New York, Pipitone was a file clerk, runner, and receptionist, before obtaining her agent’s licence at the age of 18.
“I stayed in the business and graduated from different departments, so I had exposure to claims and personal lines, and I finally landed in an underwriting role, focusing on real estate. I did that for a good 20 years, and I loved every minute of it,” she says. “The path of my career has been one of chance and opportunity, however, I have always aspired to be part of the organization’s leadership team.”
Pipitone wears many different hats at Alliant, currently serving on various planning committees to support growth. In her current role, the biggest challenge is maintaining the culture that has been built at the company.
“To ensure alignment, I screen every new hire to make sure they share our values, which is primarily respect for one another. I also work to ensure each office stays connected throughout the region through regular communication,” she says.
Throughout her career, Pipitone’s mindset has been to not let her guard down and not get too comfortable.
“My approach is to put the blinders on to get the job done or someone else will. Striving for excellence is in my blood and I’m very competitive,” she reveals.
Pipitone strives to leave a lasting legacy in the insurance industry by providing valuable mentorship to her colleagues.
She says, “I like to think that any guidance I share is tucked into the pocket of the people I work with, regardless of their role, and that maybe one day they will recall the conversation fondly and with value.”
101 Park Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10017
(212) 603 0239
catherine.pipitone@alliant.com
linkedin.com/in/catherine-pipitone-69188238
alliant.com
Catherine Pipitone
EVP, Senior Manager of Operations, Alliant Americas East
Alliant Insurance Services
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“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day”
Adam Rakowski,
Ortus Financial
1986–2006
2006–2011
2011–2015
2015–2017
2015–present
Senior Vice President at Barkly Coverage Corp., a division of MLW Services
1986–
2006
President at Perspective Consulting
2006–
2011
Underwriting Manager – New York at Kevin Davis Insurance Service
2011–
2015
Executive Vice President at Preferred Concepts
2015–
2017
EVP, Senior Manager, Operations at Alliant Insurance Services
2015–
present
Milestones
Milestones
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“You can’t control the outcome, but you can always control what version of you turns up every day,” he says.
While at the helm of a rapidly growing business and a family that includes two young children at home, Rakowski has learned to manage what he calls a “never-ending list of commitments” that consists of a new team member each month, a new interstate office and two to three new referral partners monthly.
“Our business is a human business, so investing genuine time in every person can be draining on a personal level. Balancing it all is a challenge,” he says. “Simply put, do what you say you will do, and act at all times with honesty and integrity, being respectful and empathetic. The financial outcomes are a byproduct of the human interactions we have.”
Attracting, retaining and delivering exceptional client outcomes and service starts with a sincere interest in their journey and remaining relevant to them as their lives and needs evolve, notes Rakowski. He points out that he and his team put in most of the work upfront in building meaningful relationships, which is a testament to its 99% client retention rate.
He says, “We are clear in the types of clients we work best with and our value proposition. We also look for a cultural alignment with all of our referral partners, and we are acutely aware of our strengths and how different we are from our industry peers.”
Rakowski recently opened a Queensland business and plans a foot in every other capital city. He strives to establish the brokerage as a national business with on-the-ground representation in every state by the end of 2025.