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Robert Klonk, chairman and CEO of Oswald Companies and Unison Risk Advisors, and Eddie Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Oswald, were named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business Power 150 class of 2024.
The Power 150 consists of executives leading Northeast Ohio’s most influential organizations and who are best positioned to move the region forward. Klonk and Taylor join an esteemed group of leaders, including Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Sherwin-Williams Co. CEO Heidi Petz, and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.
Klonk joined Oswald in 1995, was named CEO in 2013 and deemed chairman in 2020. As chairman, he shepherded Oswald as it joined forces with Baltimore-based insurance brokerage RCM&D in 2020, forming Unison Risk Advisors. In 2022, Unison Risk Advisors announced a strategic investment partnership with Peloton Capital Management, a private equity firm in Toronto.
“(Klonk) has more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry and in 2020 took the lead in the creation of Unison Risk Advisors, which was formed by the merger of Oswald and Baltimore-based RCM&D. Unison has been an aggressive acquirer, most recently (in October) expanding into the wholesale insurance space with the purchase of Boston-based Avondale Insurance Associates,” Crain’s wrote. “Klonk has been a key player in civic circles, serving on the boards of organizations including Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Greater Cleveland Partnership and Cleveland Leadership Center, among others.”
Taylor heads Taylor Oswald, one of the country’s largest Black-owned insurance brokerage firms. He has previously owned or operated businesses in a variety of industries, including warehousing and distribution. Taylor was also the founding chairman of the Board of Directors for the Cleveland Leadership Center.
“As president of Taylor Oswald a venture between Oswald Companies and Taylor, he runs one of the nation’s largest Black-owned insurance brokerage firms,” Crain’s wrote.
Click here to view the full 2024 class of the Crain’s Cleveland Business Power 150 (subscriber login required).
