Hartford Business Journal

38 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 POWE R 50 | GENER AL BUSINES S POWE R 50 | RE AL ESTATE c hristopher j. swift is chairman and ceo of the hartford. he joined the insurer in 2010 as chief financial officer and was named ceo in 2014, leading a strategic refocusing on property-and-ca- sualty insurance and employee benefits following the global financial crisis. since becoming ceo, swift has overseen a series of acquisitions and divestitures, in- cluding the purchase of aetna's u.s. group life and disability business in 2017, and C hris DiPentima is president and CEO of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the state's largest business organization, represent- ing thousands of employers across indus- tries and regions. CBIA's network includes the CBIA Foundation for Economic Growth & Opportunity, its workers' compensation mutual company, a products and services company, a captive insurance LLC, and af- filiates including CONNSTEP and ReadyCT. DiPentima previously served as division specialty insurer the navigators group in 2019. during that period, the company also exited its run-off life and annuity business. swift said those moves were intended to concentrate the company's operations in lines where it had established scale and underwriting expertise. in 2025, swift said the hartford reported strong fourth-quarter and full-year results and completed a brand refresh tied to the company's 215th anniversary. he also cited continued investment in technology, data and artificial intelligence, along with internal initiatives focused on employee training and leadership development. swift has been active in civic and commu- nity initiatives in greater hartford, including efforts to strengthen economic vitality in the city. in 2025, he convened a vision committee of corporate and community leaders focused on developing a long-term plan for hartford. what qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? adaptability has always mattered in busi- ness, but it is even more important today. tech and ai are accelerating the rate of change. a mindset of curiosity makes adapt- ability possible, and empathy connects it all. empathy allows people to ask for help and feel confident they will be supported. when adaptability, curiosity and empathy come together, leaders build workplaces that are resilient, innovative and grounded in trust. with plans to convert the property into 231 apartments; 91 Hope St., a for-sale condominium development in Stamford; 51 South (134 units, opened March 2025); and Scribe in Norwalk (204 units, opened November 2025). He also cited the ongoing expansion of the Lloyd Hotel in Stamford, which will add 52 guest rooms, meeting space, a restaurant and outdoor courtyard gardens. Looking ahead, Salvatore said real estate development is increasingly shaped by rapidly changing variables, including con- struction costs, interest rates, economic conditions and public policy, creating both uncertainty and opportunity. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Changes are happening very quickly all around us, from geopolitical events to AI and other technological advances, which makes it critical to look ahead and be pre- pared to make necessary investments and organizational changes in order to adapt to a potential new world order. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? Connecticut has always been my home, and it offers such a diversity of experiences from urban areas to small New England towns, to the coastline and large swaths of farmland. What is one change that would make Con- necticut more competitive economically? I believe it is critical for the state to continue paying down long-term pension obligations without increasing taxes and driving away large parts of the tax base. R andy Salvatore is founder and CEO of RMS Companies, a real estate development, construction and hospitality firm. He oversees the com- pany's strategic direction and operations across its residential, commercial and ho- tel portfolio in Connecticut and New York. Over the past year, Salvatore said RMS continued expanding its multifamily development pipeline, including Portrait at City Crossing (237 apartments); 74 Broad St. in Stamford (280 units); 177 Broad St. in Stamford, acquired in December 2025 C hristopher Reilly is president and CEO of Lexington Partners, where he has spent the past eight years help- ing to build and scale the firm's real estate development and management business. He joined the company to support develop- ment efforts and expand acquisitions of exist- ing assets, as Lexington grew from a six-per- son operation to more than 140 employees. Following the death of founder Marty Kenny two years ago, Reilly assumed additional responsibility for development activity. He has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, including senior leadership roles at The Winn Companies, Equity Resi- dential and The Wingate Companies. president of Leggett & Platt Aerospace, over- seeing operations at Pegasus Manufacturing in Middletown and additional locations in Washington, California and France. He joined Pegasus in 2002 and became president in 2006, leading strategic initiatives that doubled employment and revenue before the company was acquired by Leggett & Platt in 2016. Earlier in his career, he practiced law for eight years. Over the past year, CBIA helped advocate for regulatory reforms, including replacing the Transfer Act with release-based cleanup reg- ulations. The organization has also expanded member engagement through events and programs, while advancing workforce and manufacturing initiatives through the CBIA Foundation and Manufacturing Coalition. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership requires a combination of conviction, adaptability and humility. The most effective leaders listen broadly and rely on their team, recognizing they don't have to know everything. Leaders must be strong and convincing in their strategy, willing to move forward boldly, while also remaining flexible enough to ad- just and adapt as things inevitably change. Uncertainty and change can cause leaders to retreat into defense mode. The best leaders instead look for opportunity in disruption, understanding that challenges often create the greatest openings for growth. Over the past year, Lexington advanced several projects despite difficult market conditions. He said the firm also invested in internal processes and accountability as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen the organization. Looking ahead, Reilly said higher inter- est rates, cost pressures and economic uncertainty present challenges, but also opportunities for well-capitalized operators to pursue acquisitions, expand partner- ships and invest in systems, technology and talent to support long-term growth. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership today starts with clarity and integrity. In an environment that is com- plex and constantly changing, leaders must be able to set a clear direction, make thoughtful decisions with incomplete information, and consistently act in a way that builds trust. People are looking for steadiness and cred- ibility — leaders who say what they mean, follow through and hold themselves to the same standards they expect of others. Equally essential are adaptability and humility. The pace of change in markets, technology and talent expectations requires leaders to listen, learn and adjust quickly. No one has all the answers, and strong leaders create space for diverse perspectives while remaining accountable for outcomes. Finally, effective leadership today demands empathy and accountability in equal measure — understanding and supporting people as individuals, while still driving per- formance, ownership and results in service of the organization's long-term vision. Christopher J. Swift Chairman & CEO The Hartford Industry: Insurance No. of employees at company: 19,100 2025 revenue: $28.4 billion Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting, Marquette University Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois Randy Salvatore Chief Executive Officer RMS Companies Industry: Real Estate & Hotel Development No. of employees: 275 Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, University of Pennsyl- vania, Wharton School Birthplace: Stamford Chris DiPentima President & CEO Connecticut Business & Industry Association Industry: Nonprofit Advocacy No. of employees: 57 Annual revenue: $13 million Education: Bachelor's degree, Bos- ton College; Law degree, Quinnipi- ac University School of Law Birthplace: New Haven Christopher Reilly President & CEO Lexington Partners Industry: Real Estate Development & Management No. of employees: 140 Education: Bachelor's degree in physics, College of the Holy Cross Birthplace: Birkenhead, United Kingdom

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