Paula Downey Goes Out on Top

The Bay Area Council congratulates Executive Committee member Paula Downey on her retirement last week as President and CEO of CSAA Insurance Group after a remarkable 45-year career in the insurance business. Paula has served on the Council’s Executive Committee since 2012. She is highly respected for her strategic thinking and forward-looking leadership. Paula was a valuable contributor to the Council’s top leadership group and played a critical role in developing and guiding the Council’s recent strategic review and assessment. 

In addition to serving on the Executive Committee, Paula chaired the Council’s Transportation Committee. Paula began her career 45 years ago as an intern at AAA. She took the helm of Walnut Creek-based CSAA in 2010, growing it from a $2.4 billion company to a $4 billion company in 2018. We thank Paula for her long commitment the Bay Area Council and the region, and we wish her all the best in the future. As we say goodbye to Paula, we’re very excited to welcome her successor, Thomas Troy, who takes over CSAA after leading a $5 billion portfolio of business at Allstate.