Professional Disability Associates Appoints Michael Shunney as Chief Executive Officer

PORTLAND, Maine, June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --  Professional Disability Associates (PDA), a provider of specialty risk resources and consultative solutions to the disability insurance market, subsidiary of The Advocator Group and Brown & Brown, Inc. BRO, announced today that Michael Shunney has been named Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Shunney will continue to serve as the CEO of PDA's parent company, The Advocator Group, and this appointment allows for greater synergy between the two organizations.

The Advocator Group acquired PDA in 2018, a transaction in which Mr. Shunney was actively involved. Subsequently, Mr. Shunney stepped into the role of President of PDA in 2019 to lead a strategic transformation of the firm's disability insurance solutions and advisory services. During this period, he collaborated closely with the organization's senior leaders, and he played an instrumental role in recruiting two seasoned industry executives to join the team in the first half of 2020.

This transition marks the next key milestone in the integration between The Advocator Group and PDA. Upon acquisition, the firms merged business services, such as finance, human resources, and information technology, followed by deploying key talent across the organizations to best meet business needs and allow for increased growth. As CEO to both companies, Mr. Shunney will maintain an enterprise-wide view of market opportunities and potential for integrated offerings.

Kevin Riley, who served as interim CEO since August 2019, moves into the position of Senior Vice President, Customer Experience. In this role, Mr. Riley will capitalize on his deep and extensive relationships in the disability insurance market, ensuring that PDA brings forward innovative solutions that meet true customer needs and enables customers to make meaningful impacts on financial results.

Mr. Riley commented, "This role represents an exciting opportunity to more deeply explore my passion for working with customers. In my 10 years with PDA, as well as my prior experience in the industry, I have developed a strong understanding of our industry's unique challenges and opportunities. I look forward to collaborating on solutions that effectively meet customers' needs and help to grow their businesses."

Mr. Shunney notes, "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead PDA in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer and to partner with the outstanding leadership team in growing this business. PDA is known to the market as a key partner to disability carriers, and I look forward to, not just continuing, but advancing that reputation." He continues, "I am also delighted to enhance my working relationship with Kevin. His dedication to our customers is unmatched, and I am confident they will gain tremendous value from having him in this role."

To learn more about Mr. Shunney, Mr. Riley, and Professional Disability Associates, visit http://www.professionaldisabilityassociates.com.

ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DISABILITY ASSOCIATES
Professional Disability Associates (PDA) is an innovative industry leader in providing specialty risk resources, including medical and vocational review services, consultative solutions and industry benchmarking, as well as full-service claim administration capabilities to major disability insurers and self-insured employers. PDA prides itself on delivering customized solutions and exceeding its customers' expectations. To learn more, please visit our website, http://www.professionaldisabilityassociates.com.

ABOUT THE ADVOCATOR GROUP
The Advocator Group, LLC is a nationwide advocacy organization dedicated to helping individuals apply for and obtain Social Security Disability Insurance. In addition, The Advocator Group assists Medicare beneficiaries in identifying the best coverage possible for their unique needs. The Advocator Group's team of experienced Social Security and Medicare advocates ensures that each client is provided phenomenal service while each case receives close attention. For more information, visit http://www.advocator.com.

ABOUT BROWN & BROWN, INC.
Brown & Brown, Inc. BRO is a leading insurance brokerage firm, providing risk management solutions to individuals and businesses. With more than 80 years of proven success and thousands of teammates, we offer knowledge you can trust and strive to deliver superior customer service. For more information, please visit http://www.bbinsurance.com.

SOURCE Professional Disability Associates