Maine State Chamber honors John Leonard with its most prestigious award

Courtesy / The MEMIC Group John Leonard, who stepped down as president and CEO of The MEMIC Group in September 2017, has received the Alton “Chuck” Cianchette Business Hall of Fame Award from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

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By Staff

John T. Leonard, who stepped down in September 2017 after a 24-year tenure as president and CEO of The MEMIC Group, has received the Maine State Chamber of Commerce’s most prestigious award for his leadership and contributions to Maine.

The chamber presented its Alton “Chuck” Cianchette Business Hall of Fame Award to Leonard at its recent annual dinner. Previous recipients include U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia J. Snowe and Angus King, former Gov. Kenneth M. Curtis and prominent leaders in Maine’s business and education communities.

“This award, in remembrance of Chuck Cianchette and in recognition of those who reflect Chuck’s values and leadership qualities, honors John for his outstanding leadership, success, and his compassion, courage, commitment and numerous contributions to our great state,” said Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

Leonard became president and CEO of The MEMIC Group in the company’s first year of operations in 1993. Under his leadership, MEMIC grew to one of the largest workers’ compensation insurance companies in New England and now has offices from Maine to Florida. In 2018, MEMIC was named the “top workers’ compensation insurance company in the U.S.” by ACORD, the global standard-setting organization for the insurance industry.

In addition to his leadership role at MEMIC, Leonard has served in numerous national leadership roles in the insurance industry and was appointed to the New England Advisory Council of the Boston Federal Reserve. Currently, he is a member of the board of MEMIC Indemnity Co. and MEMIC Casualty Co..

A native of New York state and graduate of Siena College, which honored him with the Joseph Buff Award for outstanding career achievements, Leonard is a champion of higher education and has served in various capacities with the University of Southern Maine, Saint Joseph’s College and Southern Maine Community College.

Leonard’s contributions have been recognized by the Portland, Maine Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He recently was honored by MEMIC’s board of directors with only the second endowed chair at the University of Southern Maine, which is named the MEMIC John T. Leonard Endowed Chair in Risk Management and Insurance.

"I am truly honored to join the list of leaders who have received this award in prior years,” said Leonard. “Further, it is also a privilege to receive this award named for Chuck Cianchette, who will always be remembered as one of the great leaders in our fine state of Maine."