Andrew Krantz had to overcome a legacy of expectations when he began working at York International Agency, headquartered in Harrison: His grandfather founded the insurance company, and his father, currently company chairman, evolved it into the risk-management agency that it is today.
No worries. He has met the challenge, bringing in an estimated $50,000 in new revenue for the firm from the 15 new clients he’s secured to-date.
Krantz is a great salesperson, says Robert Kestenbaum, the CEO of York International. “When he came into the company, he chose to start out as a sales executive. He’s earned the respect of everyone because sales is the hardest.”
The 26-year-old Northwestern graduate began working at the company two years ago after starting his career at Aon plc in Chicago, where he participated in the risk-management and insurance company’s early career-development program. There, he dealt with international Fortune 1000 companies, but, after two years, he decided to go into the family business. “I got great experience at Aon,” Krantz says, “and I wanted to take the next step in my career, and I felt like I had a lot of mentors who had a vested interest in my success at York.”
Shortly after starting at the company as a sales executive, Krantz initiated a company-wide survey to assess everyone’s thoughts on the company and brand. Krantz was disappointed to learn that the company’s charitable efforts were not fully recognized by the staff, but he saw an opportunity to combine his philanthropic interests with a positive push for York International. “If our employees don’t know or aren’t informed about what York does to give back,” he says, “I could only imagine that clients and prospective clients weren’t informed, either.”
In response, Krantz created a branding committee that meets monthly to discuss ways to promote the brand while helping their greater community. The company has helped serve Thanksgiving dinner at the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon, sponsors a Little League team, and has raised more than $3,000 for various charities as a part of the York International Cares Dress Casual for Charity initiative that Krantz spearheaded.
“He comes from a good family and it doesn’t surprise me that he’s trying to live up to the ways he’s been raised,” says his college friend, Jeff Potter.
—MK
