Andy Bessette has long been one of Hartford’s top boosters.
As executive vice president and chief administrative officer of property-and-casualty insurer Travelers Cos., which has major operations in downtown Hartford, 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 leaders 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 professional golfers from around the world, while raising millions of dollars for charity.
In 2021 the Travelers Championship welcomed back a limited number of fans after not having live spectators a year earlier due to the pandemic. The tournament last year generated $2.2 million for more than 125 charities throughout the region. The tournament has contributed more than $45.5 million to the local community since its inception in 1952.
A UConn graduate, his ties to Connecticut and the region are strong. He sits on several boards, including UConn and UConn Health. He’s also vice chairman of the Capital Region Development Authority, which has been responsible for revitalizing downtown Hartford by funding about 2,500 new apartments.
Bessette also owns a small place in American history. He was an Olympic hammer thrower who was supposed to participate in the 1980 summer games in Moscow before the U.S. boycotted the event.