James C. Drinkwater

President, AmWINS Group, Inc.

James C. Drinkwater is president of AmWINS Group, Inc., the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the United States. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 115 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $17 billion dollars annually.

Drinkwater joined AmWINS in 2004 as chief operating officer of the firm’s Brokerage division. He was named president of the division in 2008. Prior to his tenure at AmWINS, he held executive positions with Stewart Smith Group (Chief Operating Officer) and Willis Group (Managing Director, Global Markets). Drinkwater began his career in the London marketplace. With more than 30 years in the industry, James has extensive experience in E&S casualty, wholesale, and specialty brokering.

A former member of the board of NAPSLO and WSIA , Drinkwater is an active participant in many industry and educational organizations. A longtime champion of professional development and education in the insurance industry, he received the Eugene A. Toale Award from the New York CPCU Society.