Merchants Insurance Group President & CEO Charles E. Makey III Named to Buffalo Business First’s 2026 Power 250 List
Charles E. Makey III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Merchants Insurance Group, has been recognized on Buffalo Business First’s Power 250, an annual ranking of Western New York’s most influential business and community leaders, for the fifth consecutive year.
The Power 250 list is curated by a selection committee of editors and reporters from Buffalo Business First, who evaluate nominees from across the region for their impact on business, civic life, and economic growth. Makey ranks #168 on the publication’s 14th annual Power 250.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be included on the Power 250 among so many visionary leaders,” said Makey. “This recognition reflects the dedication of the entire Merchants team and our independent agent partners, whose hard work and commitment continue to strengthen businesses and communities throughout the region.”
Makey’s career at Merchants Insurance Group spans three decades. He began in 1996 as Director of Sales, advancing through leadership roles including Assistant Vice President/Regional Manager of Merchants’ New England Regional Office; Vice President and Regional Manager of the company’s Central States Strategic Business Center in Dublin, Ohio; and Senior Vice President of Insurance Operations at the Merchants Insurance Group corporate headquarters. He was named President in 2021 and was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer in 2024.
In addition to his role at Merchants, Makey serves on boards and councils for a number of industry and community organizations, including the New York Insurance Scholarship Foundation, the New York Insurance Association, the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies PCC Board, the Long Island Insurance Education Foundation, Invest Buffalo Niagara, and the Aon Client Advisory Council.
Makey earned his Master of Business Administration from Daniel Webster College in 2007. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing and management from St. Bonaventure University and a degree in Business Acumen from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Makey also holds several industry designations: Associate in Insurance Services (AIS), Associate in Management (AIM), Associate in General Insurance (INS), and Mutual Insurance Professional (MIP).
Buffalo Business First released its Power 250 rankings on March 27, 2026.
Click here to view Buffalo Business First’s 2026 Power 250 list.
