Rims, the risk management society, has named Ellen Dunkin as its new president for 2021. She is the Society’s 67th president, and succeeds Laura Langone, who served in the role last year.

Ms Dunkin said: “Risk professionals from around the world met 2020’s challenges with fervour, delivering critical insight that allowed their organisations to adapt and emerge stronger.

“However, it’s up to us, risk professionals, to go one step further. We must continue to promote the value that we add, our impact on business development and position ourselves as indispensable strategic advisers who are pivotal to future success.”

Ms Dunkin is the senior vice-president, general counsel and chief risk officer for Amalgamated Life Insurance Company in White Plains, New York. She has more than 25 years of experience driving strategic and enterprise risk management programmes, as well as overseeing legal initiatives for companies including: Crump Group Inc, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

In addition, from 1998 to 2007, she was employed by Rims, serving as the Society’s general counsel and director of government affairs. She has been a member of Rims for nearly 15 years and was president of the Rims New York chapter from 2015 to 2016. Ms Dunkin joined Rims’ global board of directors in 2017.

She said: “As Rims president, I want to continue what my predecessors started. With the support of an exceptional group of board directors, passionate volunteers and dedicated staff, this Society will remain focused on developing resources to address evolving risks and that empower this professional community to demonstrate just how indispensable they really are.”

Patrick Sterling will serve as vice-president of Rims this year. New board members announced for 2021 are Kevin Bates, Christy Kaufman and Penni Nelson.