Founder Profile
William R. Berkley
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is William R. Berkley?
William R. Berkley is a founder of W. R. Berkley Corporation, which was founded in 1967.
- Company founded
- W. R. Berkley Corporation
- Founded
- 1967
Background
American insurance executive who founded W. R. Berkley Corporation in 1967. He was a New York University trustee for more than 30 years and chaired its board from 2015 to 2023.
Founding Story
William R. Berkley founded W. R. Berkley Corporation in 1967 and led it for nearly 50 years, first as CEO and then, from 2015, as executive chairman. He built the company into a Fortune 500 commercial insurer organized around specialized underwriting units. He died on June 9, 2026, at age 80.
William R. Berkley was born in 1946. Education: Stern School of Business.