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Charles E. Makey, III

President and Chief Executive Officer

About Charles

Charles E. Makey, III, is the 10th President since 1918 for Merchants Insurance Group, headquartered in Buffalo, NY.  Mr. Makey began his decades-long career with Merchants in 1996 as the Director of Sales.  He was promoted in 1998 to Assistant Vice President/Regional Manager of the company’s New England regional office in Manchester, New Hampshire.   In 2004, he assumed the role of Vice President and Regional Manager of the company’s Central States Strategic Business Center in Dublin, Ohio.  In 2009, Mr. Makey was promoted to the Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations in the corporate headquarters.  Prior to Merchants Insurance, he worked for Hartford Insurance.

Mr. Makey is the immediate Past Chair and Board member of the New York Insurance Association (NYIA); serves as the Chair of the New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation (NYISF); a Board Director of the Long Island Insurance Education Foundation (LIIEF).  He also serves as a board member of Invest Buffalo, AON’s Client Advisory Council, NAMIC PCC Board and volunteers in his community and holds the Treasurer position on the Birdsong Community Association board.   Mr. Makey was the recipient of the 2024 United Way Long Insurance Community Award and an Honoree of Buffalo Business First‘s 2025 C-Level Executives Award distinguishing Western New York’s most effective leaders. He has also received Buffalo Business First’s Power 250 Designation annually since 2022—A designation awarded to Western New York’s most influential leaders.

Education

Daniel Webster College – MBA
St. Bonaventure University – Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Management
University of Michigan Ross School of Business – Degree in Business Acumen

Certifications/Designations

  • Associate in Insurance Services (AIS)
  • Associate in Management (AIM)
  • General Insurance (INS)

Businesses and Philanthropic Organizations

Mr. Makey serves as a board member, trustee, or council member for many organizations, including:

  • New York Insurance Association (NYIA) Board Member – Past Chair (served as Chair for a two year term, 2022-2023)
  • New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation (NYISF) Board Member – Trustee
  • Long Island Insurance Education Foundation (LIIEF) Board Member – Director
  • Birdsong Association Board Member – Treasurer
  • Invest Buffalo – Board Member
  • NAMIC PCC – Board Member
  • New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation – Chair
Charles Makey, Merchants' Senior Vice President, Insurance Operations