Jeff Shonka, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)-– The First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH) board of directors has elected Jeff Shonka senior vice president, chief operating officer (COO). Shonka joined FICOH in 2002 as its chief financial officer. With this promotion, Shonka has assumed responsibility for key operational areas of the company, including Claims, Personal and Commercial Lines, Legal, Surety & Fidelity, and First Risk Management Services (FiRMS), a subsidiary brokerage operation for non-standard risks.
“Jeff is an invaluable member of the executive team who during his 10 years with First Insurance has not only earned the respect and trust of our officers, but of his department, our company and other industry leaders in Hawaii,” said Allen Uyeda, president and CEO of First Insurance. “We are fortunate to be able to share his leadership and knowledge with other operational areas of our company.”
Shonka has more than 25 years of accounting, financial and operational experience for multi-line insurers. Prior to joining FICOH, he worked at Amwest Insurance Group, Inc., a property and casualty insurer in Calabasas, Calif., for 13 years. While with Amwest, he served as a senior financial analyst and corporate controller before eventually being named chief operating officer and president.
In addition to the many contributions he has made to FICOH as chief financial officer, Shonka has also played an important role in the local insurance community, including as current president of the Hawaii Insurers Council.
Shonka graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1985 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.