Conrad Foa has spent much of his professional life shaping a New York insurance brokerage with roots stretching back to nineteenth-century Italy. As chairman of Foa & Son, he represents the fourth generation of a family business that expanded from its European beginnings into international commercial insurance. He also served in the Army, worked in Manhattan civic affairs and played early rock ’n’ roll.
Interest in him also comes from his younger son, Barrett Foa, the Broadway performer and former NCIS: Los Angeles actor. His own legacy, however, centres on business and New York civic life. A 2022 corporate acquisition marked another turning point, changing the ownership of a firm his family had guided for more than 160 years.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Conrad Foa |
| Date of Birth | 17 November 1941 |
| Age (2026) | 84 years |
| Birthplace | New York City, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Business Executive, Insurance Broker, Civic Leader and Musician |
| Known For | Chairman of Foa & Son Corporation |
| Father | Mario Foa |
| Mother | Marie Costa |
| Education | Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; London School of Economics |
| Qualifications | BSc in Insurance; MSc in Economics |
| Marital Status | Widowed |
| Wife | Linda Rimanich Foa (died 2016) |
| Children | Justin Foa and Barrett Foa |
| Famous Son | Barrett Foa, Broadway and NCIS: Los Angeles actor |
| Elder Son | Justin Foa, Insurance Executive |
| Company | Foa & Son, acquired by Alera Group in 2022 |
| Military Service | Former United States Army Captain |
| Musical Background | Drummer, Singer and Pianist |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
| Current Association | Foa & Son and New York civic organisations |
A Business Legacy That Began in Genoa
The company now known as Foa & Son began in 1861, when Fortunato Foa established an insurance business in Genoa, Italy. Its longevity reflects a business built on commercial relationships across generations.
Leadership passed to the founder’s successor, Primo Foa, in 1910. In 1935, Mario Foa transferred the business’s offices from Genoa to New York, establishing the American base from which later generations would operate.
Conrad, Mario’s son, became the fourth generation to direct the operation. The firm’s own historical timeline dates his assumption of leadership to 1971, identifying that period with an expansion into broader commercial cover and international business. He helped adapt the business to more complex corporate risks.
How Conrad Foa Changed the Insurance Business
Insurance brokers work on behalf of customers to arrange protection against financial losses. Cross-border clients may need different insurers and policies in multiple jurisdictions. Foa & Son developed specialist capabilities in these areas as its client base became more sophisticated.
Under Conrad’s leadership, the brokerage widened its focus beyond traditional arrangements. Its clients operated in real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and other sectors.
His corporate biography places particular emphasis on securing suitable coverage at competitive premiums while maintaining client service. Coverage is useful only when it matches a client’s actual exposures.
The 2022 Sale to Alera Group
A major change in the firm’s ownership occurred on 18 January 2022, when Alera Group announced its acquisition of Foa & Son. The firm was no longer independently family-owned.
Alera said the acquisition would strengthen its property and casualty operations, while Foa & Son’s existing employees and management would continue serving clients. Financial terms were not disclosed in the announcement. The deal brought a company known for specialist multinational brokerage into a much wider network of insurance and employee-benefits services.
Conrad continues to be identified as chairman in the company’s published executive biography. His elder son, Justin Foa, who took over leadership in 2006, is also identified as an executive vice-president responsible for property and casualty insurance at Alera Group.
The Education and Army Service Behind the Chairman
Born in New York City on 17 November 1941, according to biographical directory records, Conrad grew up in the city that would remain central to his career. Those records identify his parents as Mario Foa and Marie Costa. He was 84 years old in October 2026.
He studied insurance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Science, before pursuing postgraduate economics at the London School of Economics. These qualifications combined specialist insurance training with economic study.
Before becoming a long-serving business leader, he was a captain in the United States Army. His CIVITAS biography describes him as Airborne and Ranger trained and says he worked as a movements officer in South Korea.
He has also served on the London School of Economics’ North American board. His background combines academic ties on both sides of the Atlantic with practical experience in insurance markets.
From Insurance Boardrooms to Manhattan Civic Affairs
Foa’s involvement in public life has been unusually broad for an insurance executive. He served on Manhattan Community Planning Board 8, participated in the City Club of New York and has held a board role with CIVITAS, an organisation concerned with neighbourhood conditions on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem.
CIVITAS identifies him as a co-treasurer. Its work addresses urban quality of life and planning. Unlike a corporate directorship, this kind of engagement involves issues affecting the daily experience of residents in particular neighbourhoods.
His interests also extended into party politics. He was elected to the New York State Democratic Committee and stood for the New York State Senate in Manhattan’s 26th district in 1992 and 1994. He did not serve as a state senator.
Elsewhere, he served on a New York State panel tasked with oversight of Empire Blue Cross and efforts to restore its financial health. He also held leadership roles within the Insurance Brokers Association of the State of New York.
Conrad Foa’s Unexpected Return to Rock ’n’ Roll
The most surprising part of Foa’s background is his music. A programme for a 2026 New York concert describes him as a drummer who played with the Royal Teens in the mid-1950s, backed Chuck Berry on multiple occasions and performed with bandleader Sam “the Man” Taylor at shows associated with pioneering promoter Alan Freed.
The Royal Teens became famous for the late-1950s hit Short Shorts. The concert account connects Foa with the group’s early musical world, but does not establish that he played on its original recording. That distinction is important when discussing an era whose musicians and line-ups changed frequently.
An event titled Conrad Foa – Old Time Rock and Roll was scheduled at Manhattan’s Bitter End on 2 April 2026. Its billing described Foa as a singer and pianist, supported by the David Bennett Cohen Band. The concert billing presented a chairman revisiting his teenage musical interests.
Conrad Foa and Barrett Foa: Two Different Public Careers
For television audiences, the family surname is more readily associated with Barrett Conrad Foa, Conrad’s younger son. Barrett built a career in musical theatre before gaining broad recognition as Eric Beale, the technology specialist in NCIS: Los Angeles. He appeared in the series from 2009 to 2021.
His theatrical work includes Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. More recently, he appeared as Elliot Morgan, the fictional First Gentleman, in the 2025 Netflix mystery series The Residence.
Conrad’s main career developed through commercial insurance and civic service; Barrett’s unfolded on Broadway and on screen. Both have connections to live performance, although Barrett’s influences cannot be assumed.
Conrad’s elder son, Justin, followed the commercial path, joining Foa & Son in 2000 and taking the firm’s leadership in 2006.
Family Details, Finances and Public Visibility
Biographical directory records state that Conrad married Linda Rimanich in July 1970 and identify Justin and Barrett as their two sons. Linda Rimanich Foa, who worked in design journalism and marketing, died on 17 June 2016. Her obituary describes a career that developed alongside her family and civic commitments.
His precise personal net worth is not publicly verified. Although Alera Group acquired Foa & Son in 2022, the purchase price was not disclosed, and a company transaction cannot reliably establish an individual’s wealth.
Foa’s public presence remains closely connected to professional leadership, Manhattan civic life and occasional music appearances.
Conclusion
Conrad Foa’s significance lies in a career that helped carry an Italian-founded insurance brokerage into modern international markets, through a fifth-generation transition and ultimately into Alera Group. Civic service and rock ’n’ roll give that story an unusual dimension. While Barrett Foa has made the family name familiar to entertainment audiences, Conrad’s own record belongs principally to business leadership and community involvement.
FAQs
Who is Conrad Foa?
Conrad Foa is an American insurance executive and chairman of Foa & Son, an international brokerage now owned by Alera Group and originally founded in Genoa, Italy. He is also known for civic work in Manhattan, service as a US Army captain and musical interests dating back to the 1950s.
How old is Conrad Foa?
Biographical directory records give his date of birth as 17 November 1941. On that basis, he is 84 years old as of October 2026 and will turn 85 in November. His birthplace is recorded as New York City.
Is Conrad Foa related to Barrett Foa?
Yes. Conrad is the father of actor Barrett Conrad Foa, who portrayed Eric Beale in NCIS: Los Angeles and has appeared in Broadway musicals. Barrett’s elder brother, Justin Foa, took over leadership of the family’s insurance firm in 2006.
Who is Conrad Foa’s wife?
Conrad married Linda Rimanich in July 1970, according to biographical records. She was a design journalism and marketing professional and the mother of their sons, Justin and Barrett. Linda died on 17 June 2016, as confirmed by her published obituary.
Does Conrad Foa still own Foa & Son?
Foa & Son was acquired by Alera Group in January 2022, so describing it as an independently family-owned brokerage today would be inaccurate. Conrad remains identified as chairman, while Justin holds senior responsibilities at Alera Group. The acquisition’s financial terms were not publicly disclosed.
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