Dunedin-born Glenn Renwick, Fortune 500 CEO who rose from Kiwi roots to a $115M empire, killed in US car crash

Glenn Renwick, 69, one of the rare New Zealanders to lead a Fortune 500 company, has died in a tragic multi-vehicle car accident in the United States. Renwick is survived by his wife, siblings, nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

Rise of Glenn Renwick

He was born in Dunedin in 1955. Renwick grew up in a country that nurtured his passions for learning, travel, rugby, sailing, sports, and even sheep farming.


After graduating from the University of Canterbury in 1977, he set off overseas to further his studies, earning a Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida.

While growing up in New Zealand, he developed life-long passions for learning, travel, rugby, sailing, sport,s and sheep farming, the death notice read.

Renwick’s journey took him from the green fields of New Zealand to the bustling insurance industry of America.

He joined Progressive Corporation, a major US auto insurer, in 1986. Over 32 years at Progressive, Renwick steadily rose through the ranks from Auto Product Manager to CEO and Chairman.

Under his leadership, Progressive’s annual revenue skyrocketed from about US$750 million when he started to nearly US$27 billion when he retired in 2016.

His influence was not just measured in dollars but in his reputation as a leader of integrity and vision.

Progressive’s current CEO, Tricia Griffith, praised him as “an incredible leader who wanted to leave Progressive better than he found it.” His commitment shaped the company’s competitive edge and the careers of countless employees.

Back home, Renwick’s success was a source of pride.

His net worth

In 2022, he owned two properties in Wānaka and had a net worth of at least $115 million. Yet, despite his global success, he never lost touch with his Kiwi roots.