A Creeslough man has been bestowed with the Distinguished Services to the Insurance Industry in Ireland Award.
Joe Langan was presented with the prestigious award at the Insurance Institute of Sligo annual dinner at Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo on Friday, November 3.
Mr Langan’s career in insurance began over 40 years ago with a broker, Hickey Clarke, in Letterkenny. He became a director in 1976 and took over the general business of the brokerage in 1978, changing the name to Hickey, Clarke and Langan.
Starting with a strong retail brokerage, Joe and his wife, Mary, developed a successful business over the intervening years. In 1990 they obtained Coverholder authority to underwrite household business at Lloyds, which grew substantially and continues to this day.
Patricia Patton, Joe and Mary Langan. Richard Mc Carthy Photography
In 2008, Joe and Mary sold the company to Siobhan and John Bonner, but he still maintained a connection with the business as a part time consultant. In 2015, Joe took up a similar position at Harte Insurance when the business was acquired by his niece, Patricia Patton.
Joe has always been a strong promoter of professionalism and education in the industry. He obtained a Diploma from the Chartered Insurance Institute London and a Professional Diploma in Insurance (CIP) from the Insurance Institute of Ireland, and as a retiree he studied law at Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the Open University.
Due to the dedication to the broking industry and thousands of trips to Dublin from Donegal to represent broker interests, Joe is recognised as a true leader in the insurance industry.
He was a key figure in the merger of the Corporation of Insurance Brokers in Ireland (CIBI) with NIBA to form IBA in 1990 and he became President of IBA in 1992. He was appointed to the Motor Insurance Advisory Board by Mary Harney in 2002/2004.
As a young man, Joe was a fine athlete, with Cranford Athletic Club. He is also a keen golfer – both as a player and as a supporter – and is a long-standing member of Dunfanaghy Golf Club.
Richard Mc Carthy Photography
Joe is one of the gentlemen of the industry who has led the way in terms of professionalism, knowledge and integrity. He is a leadership figure in the insurance community – one who younger members of our industry can admire and seek to emulate.
A most deserving candidate, it is truly fitting that Joe is the 2017 winner of the prominent award.
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