The ANNIKA Foundation, the charitable organization founded by Hall-of-Fame golfer Annika Sörenstam, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Riley to its board of directors. With more than 30 years of experience in finance, leadership, and strategic growth, Riley brings a wealth of expertise to support the Foundation’s mission of providing opportunities for young women in golf and education.
A former collegiate golfer at the University of Kentucky, Riley earned both a Bachelor of Science and an MBA in Accounting. He began his career as a certified public accountant with Arthur Young and later Ernst & Young, before moving into the insurance industry, where he built a remarkable track record over two decades at Brown & Brown, one of the nation's leading insurance brokerages. During his tenure, he held key roles, including Regional President, Chief Acquisitions Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, making significant contributions to the firm’s growth.
Riley’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found AssuredPartners in 2011, where he was instrumental in the company’s expansion, leading day-to-day operations and executing strategic initiatives. Under his leadership, AssuredPartners completed over 200 acquisitions, growing the firm into a multi-billion-dollar business with over 8,000 employees. Riley held various leadership roles throughout his career, ultimately serving as Chief Executive Officer before retiring in 2021.
“Tom’s vast experience in leadership and growth strategies, combined with his deep understanding of the golf world, makes him a valuable addition to our board,” said Annika. “His passion for the game and commitment to empowering the next generation align perfectly with our Foundation’s goals.”
Outside of his professional endeavors, Riley enjoys spending time with his family—his spouse, five children, and four grandchildren—and pursuing his lifelong passion for golf. His personal and professional experiences will be invaluable to the continued growth of The ANNIKA Foundation.
“While I can never fully repay the game of golf for the lessons and joy it has brought to my life, serving on the board of The ANNIKA Foundation will be a labor of love,” Riley said. “The Foundation has a clear vision to broaden its global impact in the future, and I look forward to being part of that vitally important journey.”
Riley’s appointment comes at an exciting time as The ANNIKA Foundation continues to expand its global impact, helping young women achieve their dreams through scholarships, tournaments, and educational initiatives.
The ANNIKA Foundation annually conducts several “Share My Passion” grassroots clinics designed to introduce young girls to the game. It also conducts seven major golf events for aspiring junior girls: the Hilton Grand Vacations ANNIKA Invitational presented by Rolex in the U.S.; CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship in the U.S.; SERI PAK & ANNIKA Invitational Asia in Korea; ANNIKA Invitational Europe and ANNIKA Cup in Sweden; the Women’s Amateur Latin America with the R&A in Peru; and the ANNIKA Invitational Australasia in New Zealand.
Since 2014, the foundation has annually hosted the ANNIKA Intercollegiate presented by 3M, a premier women’s college tournament featuring 12 top Division I schools. It wll conduct the new More Than Golf Invitational at Old Barnwell for Mid-Major Conference champions, starting in 2025. Moreover, with the support of the Haskins Foundation, the foundation created the ANNIKA Award presented by Stifel, which is given annually to the best female collegiate golfer.
In 2022, the ANNIKA Development Program was created to support recent college graduates pursue their dreams of playing professional golf. Benefits of this three-year program include full access to Old Barnwell, a spectacular new mission-focused private club in South Carolina, financial assistance, mentorship sessions from Annika and housing in the first year. The ANNIKA Women’s All Pro Tour was launched for young professionals in 2024 to create a pathway to the Epson Tour and LPGA Tour. The foundation also is the main beneficiary of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, a top-tier LPGA Tour event. A bi-monthly More Than Golf Virtual Series was introduced in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics to further personal and life development for female junior, collegiate and young professional golfers.