Liberty Mutual Insurance has announced that Damon Hart has been appointed as executive vice president and chief legal officer, effective Jan. 1. Hart (pictured above) will join the company’s executive leadership team and will report to David Long, chairman and CEO of Liberty Mutual. Hart succeeds Jim Kelleher, who will retire at the end of the year.
Hart has served as Liberty Mutual’s deputy chief legal officer since 2020. Prior to that, he was deputy vice president and deputy general counsel for litigation and coverage. He also spent several years as deputy general counsel for employment legal. Before joining Liberty Mutual in 2014, Hart was a partner at three national law firms, where he focused on litigation and employment matters.
Hart is actively involved in Liberty Mutual’s Employee Resource Groups and throughout the community, where he coaches youth sports and mentors young professionals. He is a founding member of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, a coalition of Black and Brown executives in Massachusetts working to address and eliminate systemic racism and racial inequity. Hart also sits on the board of directors of the Home for Little Wanderers and the New England Legal Foundation.
“Damon’s tremendous experience across a wide variety of legal disciplines has helped shape our company and culture,” Long said. “He is a dedicated leader, demonstrating his steadfast commitment to the community and Liberty Mutual. He will excel at spearheading our global legal practice, continually working in the best interest of our policyholders, partners and employees.”
Kelleher, who is retiring after nearly 40 years at Liberty Mutual, has held multiple leadership roles at the company and influenced all aspects of its legal function.
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“Jim has left an indelible mark on Liberty Mutual and our industry over his remarkable career, and I’d like to thank him for his extraordinary contributions,” Long said. “He shaped the company’s legal function and leaves a lasting impact on the organization and the community through his pro bono initiatives, dedication to non-profit service and commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.”
“I’m very proud to have been part of Liberty Mutual, a truly outstanding company, for the past four decades,” Kelleher said. “It’s been an honor to lead the legal function and work closely with my colleagues and peers to achieve our collective goals. I highly respect Damon’s vast legal and business experience, as well as his exceptional leadership capabilities, as he works with the team to continue driving the business forward.”
