Andy Bessette isn’t the top executive of New York-based property-and-casualty insurer Travelers Cos. but he is certainly the face of the company in Hartford.
As executive vice president and chief administrative officer he has myriad duties, including overseeing corporate real estate, administrative services, community relations, event management and sports sponsorships. He’s been one of the top players who has helped turn Cromwell’s Travelers Championship into one of the PGA Tour’s best-run tournaments, attracting some of the world’s best golfers, while raising millions of dollars for charity.
Put simply, Bessette is the face of corporate civic engagement in Greater Hartford. A UConn graduate, his ties to Connecticut and the region are strong. He sits on several boards, including UConn and the UConn Health Center. He’s also a member of Hartford Hospital’s board of governors.
He’s vice chairman of the Capital Region Development Authority, which has been responsible for revitalizing downtown Hartford by funding about 1,500 new apartments. As board chair, he was a catalyst in reshaping the focus of the MetroHartford Alliance into more of an economic development group. He recently stepped down as chair but still remains active with the Alliance.