Heffernan Hires Catherine Torsney as Senior VP of New York Office

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Heffernan Insurance Brokers, based in Walnut Creek, California and one of the largest full-service, independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States, has hired Catherine Torsney to join its Manhattan office as Senior Vice President and Director of its Fine Art, Jewelry and Rare Collections practice.

Torsney is a seasoned insurance industry executive who has worked for two New York brokerages and a major carrier managing all aspects of national and international fine art and jewelry insurance accounts.   Starting out as a Director for a respected New York gallery, Torsney later worked on the carrier side as a senior specialty lines underwriter before focusing on the fine art and high net worth specialty brokerage, including oversight of operations of all lines of property & casualty coverage.  Her past responsibilities included product development, sales, marketing and risk management.

Torsney is a graduate of Columbia University, Barnard College with a degree in Art History and has extensive gallery experience.  She has taken courses toward a certificate in Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts, and is also a licensed property & casualty broker.

F. Michael Heffernan, President & CEO, remarked, "Cathy brings a very specialized expertise and broad experience to Heffernan Insurance Brokers.  We're happy to have her on board in New York as a member of our team."

Heffernan Insurance Brokers offers a full line of property, liability, group medical insurance, personal insurance and financial services. The company provides insurance products and services to individuals, as well as to a diverse group of companies within a variety of industries including construction, manufacturing, wine, property owners, nonprofits, and technology.

About Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Heffernan Insurance Brokers, formed in 1988, is one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the United States. Heffernan provides comprehensive insurance and financial services products to a wide range of businesses and individuals. Headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., Heffernan has offices in San Francisco, Petaluma, Palo Alto, Los Angeles and Orange, Calif.; Portland, OR; St. Louis, MO and New York, NY.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers was named the Top Mid-Sized Broker in the United States to Work for in 2009 by Business Insurance Magazine. The firm has been among the Top Greater Bay Area Philanthropists since 2003 by donating more than $2.5 million to local charities.  Each of the firm's 420 employees is granted four paid days off per year to volunteer their time at a local nonprofit. The Heffernan Group provides a Workplace Wellness program for all employees and many participate in active volunteering events such as the Avon Breast Cancer Walk and Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge bike ride.

For more information, please visit www.heffins.com or call 800.234.6787. License # 0564249.

SOURCE Heffernan Insurance Brokers