Our Leadership

Paul G. Smith serves as Corporate Senior Vice President at H.W. Kaufman Group. He holds a variety of positions including managing relationships with insurance company partners, leading the Transportation, Excess Liability and Claims Practice Groups, and overseeing strategic risk management initiatives. Paul works closely with all Kaufman companies as a member of the senior executive team to strengthen market relationships, improve product offerings and drive synergies across Kaufman’s global platform.

With more than 35 years of insurance and leadership experience in global placement, client service and carrier relations, Paul joined the Kaufman team in 2019. He was instrumental in developing new carrier and retail agency/broker partner relationships, establishing a global carrier reporting tool that includes key performance metrics and formalizing a standard claims process across the organization.

Heavily involved in organizations in and outside of the insurance industry, Paul is a longstanding member and past Governor of the John Street Insurance Association and a board member of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF). He is also a member of the Insurance Advisory & Risk Management Committee for The Boy Scouts of America and often volunteers with several organizations including the Special Olympics New Jersey, Long Island Bull Dog Rescue and The American Legion.

Paul was the 2018 recipient of the 200 Club Meritorious Service Award and in 2015 he received the United States of America President’s Volunteer Service Award.

He is a licensed New York State Insurance Broker, New Jersey State Certified Emergency Medical Technician, National Fire Protection Association Technical Rescue & Swift Water Rescue Technician, a published author, and  owner of an LLC focused on the advancement of the collectible vehicle hobby.

Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from St. Peter’s University in Jersey City, NJ, the state in which he still resides.