# McKeel Hagerty

> McKeel Hagerty is the CEO and chairman of Hagerty, the Traverse City automotive insurance, membership and media business founded by his parents. An English and philosophy graduate with a master’s in theology, he returned to the family company in 1995 and helped expand it into an international automotive enthusiast business that listed on the NYSE in 2021. He also co-founded Grand Ventures and, with his wife Soon, Boundless Futures Foundation. His attachment to cars began with a $500 Porsche he restored with his father and still owns.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at Hagerty
- **Organizations:** Hagerty, Boundless Futures Foundation, Grand Ventures (co-founder; general partner, 2017-2021), YPO (international board chair, 2016-2017), Hagerty Drivers Foundation, Historic Vehicle Association, Petersen Automotive Museum, McPherson College automotive restoration advisory board
- **From:** Traverse City, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA in English and Philosophy, Pepperdine University, MA in Theology, Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Doctoral studies in Philosophy and Classics; did not complete doctorate, Boston College
- **Known for:** Led the expansion of a family insurance agency into an international automotive insurance, membership, media and events business., Led Hagerty through its December 2021 NYSE listing., Founded the Historic Vehicle Association and supported the National Historic Vehicle Register.

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Parents Frank and Louise founded Hagerty Insurance Agency, initially focused on collector wooden boats.
- **1987** — Began working in various roles at Hagerty, according to the company’s proxy biography.
- **1995** — Returned to Traverse City from doctoral studies and became a vice president in the family company.
- **1998** — Began serving on the advisory board for McPherson College’s automotive restoration program.
- **2000** — Became co-CEO of Hagerty; began judging at Pebble Beach.
- **2009** — Created the Historic Vehicle Association.
- **2012** — Became sole CEO of Hagerty.
- **2013** — Historic Vehicle Association collaborated with the U.S. Department of the Interior on the National Historic Vehicle Register.
- **2014** — Received the Nicola Bulgari Award from America’s Car Museum.
- **2016-2017** — Served as international board chair of YPO.
- **2017** — Co-founded Grand Ventures and refocused Hagerty’s purpose on preserving driving and car culture.
- **2021** — Hagerty became a publicly traded company on the NYSE under HGTY in December.
- **2022** — Appeared as a guide in Gran Turismo 7’s Hagerty Collection.
- **2023** — Launched Boundless Futures Foundation with Soon Hagerty.
- **2024** — Became chairman of Hagerty’s board in April.

## Achievements

- Led the expansion of a family insurance agency into an international automotive insurance, membership, media and events business.
- Led Hagerty through its December 2021 NYSE listing.
- Founded the Historic Vehicle Association and supported the National Historic Vehicle Register.
- Received America’s Car Museum’s 2014 Nicola Bulgari Award for automotive heritage preservation.
- Elected international board chair of YPO for 2016-2017.
- Co-founded Grand Ventures in 2017.
- Co-founded Boundless Futures Foundation with Soon Hagerty in 2023.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Published a September 23 driving Q&A covering Italy, the London to Brighton run, his original Porsche and future family road trips.
- **2026-07** — Published a July 13 essay on favorite roads, including Michigan’s M-22, California State Route 229 and Big Sur.
- **2026-07** — Featured on Barry Ritholtz’s Masters in Business; the transcript recounts his education, family business and car-club idea.
- **2025-09** — Published essays on restoration skills and on leaders making room for their teams.

## Links

- Website: https://mckeelhagerty.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckeelhagerty/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/McKeelHagerty
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuGc39TXR9gkgFKKQa5obXQ
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McKeelHagerty/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/mckeel-hagerty
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23