Ramani Ayer
Encyclopedia
Ramani Ayer is an American-Indian business executive, and the former the CEO and chairman of The Hartford
.
in 1969 and his master's and doctorate from Drexel University
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1973. Ayer has practiced Transcendental Meditation
since the 1970s.
after graduating from college in 1973.
Ayer became Vice President of HartRe, The Hartford's reinsurance subsidiary in 1983, President of Hartford Specialty Company in 1986, and Senior Vice President of The Hartford in 1989. Ayer then became Executive Vice President of The Hartford in 1990, and President and COO of the company's property-casualty operations in 1991. After being elected CEO in 1996, he took the office of Chairman and CEO of The Hartford on February 1, 1997.
In 2007, Ayer was one of three foreign-born Indian-origin executives to run a Fortune 100 company.
In June 2009, Ayer announced his retirement from The Hartford by the end of the year. He stepped down as CEO on October 1, 2009.
While CEO, Ayer served as a member of the Business Roundtable
representing The Hartford. Ayer sits on the board of directors for the American Insurance Association and the Hartford Hospital
while also serving as a trustee of the Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration. He serves on the boards of the Maharishi University of Management
and the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace
, which funds the instruction of Transcendental Meditation
in schools. In 2011, he was appointed to the board of directors of XL Group, a financial services company.
The Hartford
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. , usually known as The Hartford, is a Fortune 500 company and one of America’s largest investment and insurance companies...
.
Education
Ayer earned his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology BombayIndian Institute of Technology Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , popularly known as IIT Bombay or IITB, is a public research university located in Powai, Mumbai...
in 1969 and his master's and doctorate from Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1973. Ayer has practiced Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
since the 1970s.
Career
Ayer began working for The HartfordThe Hartford
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. , usually known as The Hartford, is a Fortune 500 company and one of America’s largest investment and insurance companies...
after graduating from college in 1973.
Ayer became Vice President of HartRe, The Hartford's reinsurance subsidiary in 1983, President of Hartford Specialty Company in 1986, and Senior Vice President of The Hartford in 1989. Ayer then became Executive Vice President of The Hartford in 1990, and President and COO of the company's property-casualty operations in 1991. After being elected CEO in 1996, he took the office of Chairman and CEO of The Hartford on February 1, 1997.
In 2007, Ayer was one of three foreign-born Indian-origin executives to run a Fortune 100 company.
In June 2009, Ayer announced his retirement from The Hartford by the end of the year. He stepped down as CEO on October 1, 2009.
While CEO, Ayer served as a member of the Business Roundtable
Business Roundtable
The Business Roundtable is a politically conservative group of chief executive officers of major U.S. corporations formed to promote pro-business public policy.-History:...
representing The Hartford. Ayer sits on the board of directors for the American Insurance Association and the Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital
Hartford Hospital is an acute care hospital located in the South End of Hartford, Connecticut. The hospital was formed in 1854 after the State of Connecticut granted a charter for the Formation of Hartford Hospital following a boiler explosion and resulting fire at the Fales and Grey Car Works...
while also serving as a trustee of the Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration. He serves on the boards of the Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management
Maharishi University of Management , formerly known as Maharishi International University, is a non-profit, American university, located in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded in 1973 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and features a "consciousness-based education" system that includes the practice of the...
and the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace
David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace is a global charitable foundation based in Fairfield, Iowa. It was founded by film director and Transcendental Meditation practitioner David Lynch in 2005....
, which funds the instruction of Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation technique
The Transcendental Meditation technique is a specific form of mantra meditation often referred to as Transcendental Meditation. It was introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
in schools. In 2011, he was appointed to the board of directors of XL Group, a financial services company.