Member Spotlight on Philip Cordeiro (By Katie Johanski)
Born in New Jersey and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Philip was a three-sport athlete in High School. This foundation laid the groundwork for discipline and determination that would shape his professional trajectory. After high school, he went on to pursue studies in International Business and Finance at Kutztown University. He also received a minor in Spanish after attending a two-month language immersion program in Costa Rica. During his senior year, Philip interned at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, focusing on futures and commodities.
After graduation, Philip joined The Franklin Mint making models to predict US markets based on Canadian and other foreign markets. As the market shifted, life took an unexpected turn with the anthrax attacks of 2001, and he departed The Franklin Mint. His move to California became a pivotal decision to seek new opportunities. Philip’s first job in San Diego was at AIG as a financial advisor. He spent three years acquiring his own customers, working long hours, and successfully managing large accounts. Philip was successful but was seeking a balance in his life. A friend asked if he wanted to join Sentry Insurance as a Business Product Specialist and that is when he started his insurance journey.
Philip spent five years representing Sentry, working on their focus markets of printers, plastic, electronic components, and metal workers before moving onto the broker side. He worked for John Burnham and Co, also known as (depending on what year and which acquisition), UnionBanc, BB&T and McGriff. During those four years, Philip attained his Masters of Science and Business Administration (MSBA) from San Diego State University, focusing on marketing and entrepreneurship, and inspired by the greats minds that founded Rubios, WD-40 and Walmart.
After building a nice book of business at McGriff, mainly in construction, Philip moved onto a Territory Marketing Manager role at Liberty Mutual, managing the transition of brokers acquired through the acquisition of Safeco Insurance. He represented the workers compensation, property, liability and auto lines for the carrier and was eventually promoted to Full Territory Manager for the Orange County region and stayed with Liberty Mutual for almost six years.
Philip’s next big jump was to Regional Vice President at Midwest Employers Casualty Co, an excess carrier. This was a whole new world for him, with different clientele, less transactional work and more relationship-building with self-insured companies who were taking on risk alongside Midwest. He stayed there for over a decade, meeting the needs and challenges of all customers west of Colorado.
The effects of the pandemic didn’t slow Philip down. He spent his time during 2020 finding success in day trading and buying/selling options contracts. He also took courses in photography and the sciences of wellbeing and received a California real estate license.
Philip was contacted by Sedgwick, a leading third party administrator claims management company, in 2021 with a great opportunity to be the Director of Business Development for all of California. He has now been with Sedgwick for more than three years and loves it. His previous experience in the financial, carrier, broker, excess and self-insurance sides of the business prepared him to support, for the first time, the life of actual claims, and see how many people and resources are needed to effectively manage those claims. He appreciates the opportunity to work with risk managers to get injured employees healed and back to work.
Philip has been coming to San Diego RIMS events for years and volunteered with the Golf Committee a couple years ago. This year, he joined the Board as an Associate Advisor to get more involved, meet new people and give back to the risk community. When he is not working or volunteering for the Board, Philip likes to box, play basketball, read, watch movies, and dine out. He is currently reading Winning by Tim Grover and his go-to favorite movies are Braveheart, Top Gun and True Romance. You can find this foodie at Morton’s The Steakhouse or rooting for any team from Philadelphia (Note: he will root for the Padres as long as they are not playing the Phillies). He has done quite a bit of traveling to places like Europe, India, Cuba, and the Maldives. He’ll be in Hawaii this month and would like to go to Japan next.
If this all was not enough activity, Philip also enjoys being a dad, hanging out with his six-year old son, Nolan, who likes to skateboard, scooter, play basketball and go to the beach. Philip coaches youth basketball, is currently learning about mindfulness, and is completing a Marriage and Family Licensing Certificate.
Welcome Philip!