Thomas F. Motamed, an industry veteran who started his career as a claims trainee and eventually led some of the largest insurers in the world, died of brain cancer on Tuesday. He was 74 years old.

Motamed was most recently a member of AIG’s Board of Directors, but in January he stepped down for health reasons after serving the insurer for about four years.

“I am deeply saddened by Tom Motamed’s recent passing,” said Peter Zaffino, AIG chairman and CEO, in a statement. He credited Motamed for being a “steady presence during a critical part of AIG’s turnaround and transformation.”

“Tom made a lasting impression on the insurance industry through his dedication to the agents, brokers, clients and other partners who benefitted from his insights, expertise and judgment,” Zaffino added.

Motamed began his insurance career in 1977 as a claims trainee with Chubb and rose within the company to become its vice chairman and chief operating officer in December 2002.

Motamed then accepted the position of chairman and chief executive officer of CNA Financial Corp. and started in June 2009, saying at the time that “the opportunity to become CEO of a publicly traded, well known and respected insurer like CNA is one I did not want to pass up.” He retired from CNA at the end of 2016.

“We send our collective condolences to Tom’s family,” CNA said in a statement. “The insurance industry has benefited in countless ways from Tom’s inspired and dedicated leadership over a remarkable 45-year career. Tom will be greatly missed.”

Motamed also served as a director for Verisk Analytics from 2009 to 2016 and on the board of the Palmer & Cay insurance agency from 2000 to 2005. He was a past chairman of the Insurance Information Institute and was chair emeritus for Adelphi University.