Early Life
Henry Allan Engelhardt was born on January 17, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois, to a Jewish family. His parents were Annette (née Bernstein) and Sheldon Arthur Engelhardt, who owned a successful meatpacking operation in Chicago. Henry attended Evanston Township High School and earned a dual degree in journalism and radio, television, and film from the University of Michigan. He later pursued an MBA from INSEAD in Europe, further honing his business acumen. His early experiences in his father's meatpacking business and observing the work ethic of futures traders in Chicago instilled in him a strong foundation in commerce and business strategies.
Rise to Success
Engelhardt's career in the insurance industry began with Churchill Insurance, where he developed his approach to business. In 1993, he launched Admiral Group, which would become a major success. In 1999, he led a management buyout of Admiral Group, which was later listed on the London Stock Exchange and became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The Engelhardt family held a significant stake in Admiral Group, owning over 14% of the company by September 2012. In March 2017, he became the CEO of Elephant Insurance Services, a U.S. subsidiary of Admiral Group.
Key Business Strategies
Engelhardt's success is attributed to his focus on creating a positive work environment. He implemented strategies to foster a fun and fair workplace. His leadership style emphasized the power of teamwork and delegating responsibilities to empower employees. He is also known for focusing on technology and price transparency. Under his leadership, Admiral Group expanded into multiple countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and the USA.
Philanthropy
Engelhardt, along with his wife Diane, started the Moondance Foundation to support causes in Wales, particularly in education, healthcare, poverty, and the arts.
