First Niagara Financial : 06/09/16 First Niagara Risk Management’s Kim McGillicuddy Named Chairwoman of the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut

Norwalk, Conn. - June 9, 2016 -First Niagara Risk Management (FNRM) today announced that Kim McGillicuddy, CPCU, Enterprise Sales Leader has been named the new Chairwoman of theIndependent Insurance Agents of Connecticut(IIAC).

McGillicuddy, who previously served as an officer on the Executive Committee for the IIAC, was installed as the Chairwoman on June 7, 2016 at the 118Annual Meeting of the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut at the Wethersfield Country Club, Wethersfield, CT.

'Kim's experience and Commitment to the independent agency system makes her the ideal person for the new Chairwoman of IIAC' said Past-Chairman, Jim Suzio, CIC.

McGillicuddy has more than 25 years of experience working in the insurance industry and served as the Chief Operating Officer at Pierson & Smith until it was acquired by First Niagara Risk Management in 2011. In her current role as Enterprise Sales Leader at FNRM, she works with company leadership to develop and execute a consultative sales culture for commercial lines and employee benefits consulting.

'I am honored to be named Chairwoman of the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut and look forward to utilizing my experience in the insurance industry to assist our members find the latest news, information, products and services to help them enhance their role as insurance industry experts,' said McGillicuddy.

Prior to joining First Niagara, McGillicuddy served as the President/CEO and later NE Regional Director at HRH of Connecticut. She has also worked for Marsh, The Hartford Insurance Group and Beardsley, Brown & Bassett (now part of People's United Bank).

She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and earned her CPCU designation in 1997. Kim has served on the Southern CT Pop Warner Board of Directors and has been active as an Advisor for a national fraternal organization at Sacred Heart University.

Kim currently resides in Fairfield, CT with her husband, children and grandchildren.

About First Niagara Risk Management

First Niagara Risk Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Niagara Bank, N.A. and a licensed insurance broker and agent. One of the 50 largest business insurance brokers as ranked in 2014 byBusiness Insurance Magazine. First Niagara Risk Management is uniquely qualified as your risk management partner. For the past five years, First Niagara was named a 'Best Practices Agency' by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), an award given for outstanding customer service, growth, stability and financial management. For additional information on First Niagara, visit us atwww.firstniagara.com, follow us on Twitter@FirstNiagara, or like us on Facebook atFirstNiagaraBank.

About Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut

The Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut (IIAC) was founded in 1899 and is the leading advocate for independent agents. IIAC is a trade association which has been located in Connecticut and has represented agents for over 100 years. IIAC currently represents more than 400 member agencies and their associates as well as their 3600-plus employees. Today IIAC offers a wide variety of products and services to their members including education, advanced degree programs, technical and regulatory assistance, insurance programs for members to protect their agency business, and insurance products that members can offer to their customers. IIAC members are your Trusted Choice.

For more information on the Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut andTrustedChoice.com, please visit their website atwww.iiact.org.

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