Rusty Reid, CIC

Rusty is a visionary leader with a relentless drive for innovation and excellence. Known for his strategic insights and natural ability to build strong relationships, he has earned a reputation as a transformative force in the insurance industry.

During his 30-plus years of leadership at Higginbotham, Rusty has spearheaded groundbreaking, people-focused initiatives that have significantly contributed to the firm’s impressive growth, expanded market presence, enhanced brand visibility, and thriving company culture. Under his leadership, Higginbotham has become a Top 20 independent brokerage firm in the U.S. and the largest in Texas.

From introducing the firm’s groundbreaking single-source service model, enabling clients to access a full spectrum of insurance and financial services in one place, to building a culture of generosity, where combined philanthropic efforts are making a sustained difference in our communities, to establishing Higginbotham’s employee ownership structure, an initiative that has aligned employees’ interests with the company’s success and continues to be a cornerstone of talent attraction and retention, Rusty’s leadership is nothing short of impressive.

Rusty’s journey began in 1983 when he took his first role as an assistant to the principals at Ramey, King & Minnis Insurance Agency. Eager to expand his expertise, he transitioned to American General Fire & Casualty Company as a marketing manager, where he honed his strategic and leadership skills. In 1986, Rusty joined Higginbotham as its 12th employee, marking the start of a pivotal chapter that would shape his legacy as the architect of the company’s remarkable success.

Rusty has earned widespread recognition for his leadership from his peers and the broader industry. He was honored as CEO of the Year at the inaugural Insurance Business America Awards and as an inductee into Insurance Business America’s Hall of Fame in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Rusty is a recipient of the 2024 Philanthropic Leadership Award by the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Southeast and was recognized as one of the 25 Most Innovative Agents in America by The National Alliance and The Rough Notes Company, Inc.

He has been named the 2025 Fort Worth Business Executive of the Year by the Fort Worth Report, Texas Wesleyan University and the Fort Worth Chamber, an Entrepreneur of Excellence by Fort Worth Inc., a Most Admired CEO by the Dallas Business Journal, a Top Private Company Executive by the Fort Worth Business Press, a Fort Worth Newsmaker by the Dallas Business Journal and part of D Magazine’s Dallas 500. He also received the 2018 Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and was a Corporate Leadership Excellence finalist for DCEO’s 2024 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards. Rusty’s accolades complement Higginbotham’s consistent recognition as an employer of choice, a top place to work and other awards.

Rusty graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s in Business Administration/Insurance. Outside the office, his greatest joy comes from spending time with his family. He and his wife, Molly, are proud parents to three children and doting grandparents to their grandchildren.