FORTY Under 40: Ian Davis
Ian Davis, president, Vermont Captive Insurance Association.
Davis presides over VCIA, the world’s largest captive insurance trade association, and is a leading authority in the global captive industry. He brings a strategic, cross-sector perspective to the role, shaped by leadership experience in both the public and private sectors.
Before joining VCIA, Davis served as senior vice president of captive insurance at M&T Bank, where he managed a diverse portfolio and led initiatives to strengthen client relationships, enhance operational performance and support institutional growth. He is also a former director of financial services for the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, helping reinforce Vermont’s position as a premier captive domicile through legislative advocacy, strategic communications and economic development efforts.
Davis has long been engaged in advancing VCIA’s mission, having served on its board, chaired the annual conference and contributed to the development of its 2025 strategic plan. His industry leadership includes delivering legislative testimony, engaging with federal policymakers and building coalitions to advance captive insurance priorities.
Recognised for his strategic insight and collaborative leadership, Davis is known for translating vision into measurable impact and strengthening the institutions he serves. He holds an MPA degree from the University of Vermont.
Looking back at your journey over the past year, what accomplishment are you most proud of, and how has becoming a FORTY Under 40 finalist influenced your perspective on that achievement?
I’m most proud of how we’ve navigated my transition into the role of president at VCIA. Our staff and board came together quickly around our mission and strategic objectives, staying close to our members and continuing to listen and adjust as we move forward. It’s an honour to be included as a FORTY Under 40 finalist alongside such an incredible group of talented leaders, and it’s exciting to think this cohort is helping drive the next generation of captive excellence.
What key challenge did you face in your work this year? How did you overcome it and what did it teach you about leadership at this stage of your career?
Any time you join a new organisation, it’s a learning experience. You’re getting to know the people, the processes and the systems, and at the same time your colleagues are getting to know you – your leadership style, your priorities and objectives. For me, it starts with listening and being intentional about collaboration as we evolve how we work and where we’re headed. It has reinforced that leadership at this stage is really about building trust, creating clarity, and shaping the path forward together.
“Whether rethinking how we engage members year-round or modernising how we communicate, the goal is to make our work more responsive to the needs of our membership.”
In what ways have you tried to push innovation or rethink traditional approaches within your sector, and what impact has that had on your team or organisation?
I’ve tried to move us away from doing things simply because that’s how they’ve always been done. Whether it’s rethinking how we engage members year-round or modernising how we communicate, the goal is to make our work more responsive to the needs of our membership. And it’s already having an impact – our community feels more energised and we’re better positioned to deliver value in ways that help our members thrive.
How do you see your role evolving over the next three to five years, and what initiatives are you most excited to pursue as you continue to grow professionally?
As someone still relatively new to the association management space, I’m excited to learn from peer leaders and engage more deeply across the broader association community. Associations everywhere are recognising that growth and relevance depend on delivering real, tangible value to their members, and that’s exactly where I intend to focus our efforts.
This role brings together everything I’ve learned working in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, and I’m looking forward to expanding my professional network in Vermont and beyond and bringing those connections back to strengthen VCIA and the members we serve.
Many of the FORTY Under 40 winners are recognised for both business success and broader impact – how do you balance professional excellence with contributions to your community or industry landscape?
From my perspective, the two go hand in hand. Doing the work well is part of contributing to the industry and contributing to the industry makes the work better. I try to stay engaged in conversations that move the sector forward, share what I’m learning with peers and support initiatives that help grow the next generation of leaders.
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