President & CEO Charles Makey Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Merchants

This fall, Merchants Insurance Group President and Chief Executive Officer Charles E. Makey III celebrates his 30^th anniversary with the company!

Makey joined Merchants on September 16, 1996 as Director of Sales. Two years later, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President and Regional Manager of the company’s New England Regional Office, located in New Hampshire. In 2004, he became Vice President and Regional Manager of Merchants’ Central States Strategic Business Center in Dublin, Ohio.

In 2009, Makey returned to Merchants’ corporate headquarters in Buffalo as Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations. His career continued to progress over the next decade, and on April 1, 2021, Makey was appointed President of Merchants Insurance Group – the 10^th president in company history.

In February 2024, he was promoted to his current role: President and Chief Executive Officer.

A Year of Recognition

This milestone anniversary follows several recent recognitions of Makey’s leadership and service to the industry in his 30^th year. In October 2025, Makey was honored at the Buffalo Business First’s “C-Level Executive and Hall of Fame Awards” as a recipient of the Buffalo Business First‘s 2025 C-Level Executives Award, which recognizes 24 of Western New York’s most effective leaders, according to the publication. In December 2025, City & State New York released its 2025 Upstate Power 100, naming Charles Makey among influential leaders in government, business, and civic life who are shaping the future of Upstate New York.

On March 27, 2026, Buffalo Business First recognized Makey among Western New York’s influential business and community leaders on its annual Power 250 list for the fifth consecutive year.

As a Power 250 honoree, he was featured in Buffalo Business First’s “Power Person” profile series. The profile explored Makey’s 30-year career with Merchants, his leadership journey, and his commitment to the company and the Buffalo community.

Buffalo Business First subscribers can read the full article here: CEO proud of company’s century-long downtown history

At Big I New York’s GO BIG Event in May, Makey was honored with the 2026 Thom McDaniel Exemplar Award, recognizing his leadership and advocacy efforts, including his trailblazing work surrounding RICO filings aimed at combating insurance fraud in New York State. The recognition came during a successful two-day GO BIG event for Merchants, where the company was named the 2026 Outstanding Partner – Commercial Lines Carrier, an award voted on by independent insurance agents across New York.

In 2026, Makey was also named the recipient of New York Insurance Association’s 2026 Chair’s Distinguished Service Award, which honors an individual whose leadership, service, and contributions have made a lasting impact on both the association and New York’s property and casualty insurance industry.

“These recognitions are meaningful because they reflect the importance of relationships in our industry,” said Makey. “Whether it’s our colleagues, independent agents, policyholders, or industry partners, success is built through people working together toward a common goal.”

Companywide Success in Makey’s 30^th Year

Makey’s 30^th year with Merchants has included several companywide honors, too.

In January, Merchants was named to Buffalo Business First’s 2026 Best Places to Work in Western New York list for the fourth consecutive year. At the publication’s Best Places to Work & HR Impact Awards event, Merchants earned second place in its X-Large company category for the third time. This recognition is based on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous workplace survey.

Merchants was also honored as a 2026 Quantum Certified Workplace, a designation based on employee engagement and workplace practices associated with strong organizational cultures and thriving teams.

At May’s GO BIG event, Merchants received the 2026 Outstanding Company Partner – Commercial Lines Carrier of the Year award from Big I New York. Voted on by independent insurance agents across New York State, the award recognizes carrier partnership, responsiveness, and commitment to the independent agency system.

In September, Buffalo Business First named Merchants one of Western New York’s Top Private Companies for the eighth consecutive year. Merchants ranked 10^th among the 50 companies included in the print edition of the 2026 list. Rankings were based on financial data from 2025, when Merchants reported companywide revenue of $513 million.

Merchants also received a reaffirmed A- Excellent financial strength rating with a stable outlook from AM Best in June. AM Best cited the company’s “very strong” balance sheet among factors supporting the rating.

Reflecting on 30 Years

 

From Director of Sales to President and CEO, Makey’s tenure at Merchants has included leadership in multiple regions and at the operational, corporate level, and ultimately, stewardship of a company that has served independent agents and policyholders since its founding in Buffalo in 1918.

 

 

For Makey, the 30-year milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on a career that has evolved alongside the company.

“Thirty years at Merchants is a milestone I’m incredibly proud of, but what means the most to me is the people and relationships that have made those years so rewarding. From our roots here in Buffalo to the independent agents and policyholders we serve across the communities we call home, Merchants has always been built on trust, partnership, and a commitment to doing the right thing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have spent my career with this company and even more grateful for the people who have shaped it along the way. I’m honored to work with such a talented team who make Merchants a great company every day. I look forward to what we’ll continue to accomplish together!”

Charles Makey III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Merchants Insurance Group

 

 

The company celebrated Charles Makey’s 30^th anniversary at the Strategy Teams dinner, held at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery, across the street from Merchants’ headquarters in downtown Buffalo, New York.