Tony Payne rejoins MEMIC as senior VP

Courtesy / The MEMIC Group Anthony "Tony" Payne rejoins The MEMIC Group following his appointment as senior vice president, external affairs.

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By Staff

Workers’ compensation specialist The MEMIC Group has appointed Anthony "Tony" Payne to the post of senior vice president, external affairs.

Payne, a native of Portland and resident of Falmouth, will oversee corporate communications and marketing, advertising, public relations, community relations, as well as legislative and government affairs for the super-regional insurance carrier. Most recently, he held the position of vice president, business development with Clark Insurance, an independent insurance agency.

Payne first joined MEMIC in 1992 as vice president, corporate affairs and was promoted to vice president, underwriting and marketing in 1998. In 2001, he left MEMIC to become the Northern New England regional vice president for marketing for OneBeacon Insurance.

In 2006, he became the executive director of the Alliance for Maine’s Future, a nonprofit advocating public policies for a strong Maine economy. During that time, he was a weekly columnist for The Forecaster and later for the Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.

“Tony is a consummate professional who knows the MEMIC brand and culture because he helped to create it during the early years at MEMIC,” MEMIC President and CEO Michael P. Bourque said in a news release. I'm delighted to bring him back to MEMIC in this key role at our growing company.”

A community leader

Payne brings to his new position extensive experience in a variety of community leadership endeavors.

Currently, he is a member and former chairman of the University of Southern Maine board of visitors as well as a board member of Pine Tree Watch/Maine Center for Reporting in the Public Interest.

Previously, he served on the boards for Atlantic Bank, Maine Education Loan Authority, The Portland Club, Cumberland Club, Institute for Civic Leadership, Maine Public Relations Council, Maine Council on Economic Education, Cheverus High School and North Yarmouth Academy.

He also was chairman of the Legislative Task Force to Study the State Employee Workers’ Compensation System in 1998.

Payne has been involved in politics for more than 30 years and was a GOP primary candidate in the Maine’s 1st congressional district in 1992. In 2006, he was elected to the Falmouth Town Council and served two terms.

“MEMIC is a wildly successful company with a higher purpose — helping employers and employees to create a safe place to work and financial security when injuries do occur,” Payne said. “The opportunity to help expand that mission to even more parts of the country is incredibly exciting.

About MEMIC

A super-regional workers’ compensation specialty insurer rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best, The MEMIC Group insures more than 20,000 employers and their estimated 300,000 employees.

Licensed across the country with more than $1.2 billion in assets, The MEMIC Group is a leading carrier in the Northeast with a growing profile along the Eastern Seaboard. Offices are located in New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida, in addition to the headquarters in Portland.