Alex Swedlow to Retire as President of CWCI

Oakland – Alex Swedlow has announced his plans to retire as President of the Oakland-based California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) effective August 2025. 

Mr. Swedlow’s retirement will be the culmination of a 36-year association with the Institute that began in 1988 when he served as a volunteer on CWCI’s Research Committee, then as a consultant, working to enhance data collection and research on topics including medical and indemnity benefit development, 24-hour coverage and medical treatment utilization, and cost drivers. In 1998, he served as the Systems Architect and Project Manager for the Industry Claims Information System Project, which provided the foundation for CWCI’s Industry Research Information System, one of the largest and most vital transactional data warehouses in the workers' compensation industry. Upon completion of that project he was named the Institute’s Senior Vice-President of Research, and eventually succeeded J. Michael Nolan as President of the organization in May 2013. An active participant in industry advisory committee work and a frequent speaker at regional and national conferences and forums, Mr. Swedlow has become a well-respected fixture in the workers’ compensation community both in California and nationwide. 

Commenting on his long tenure at the Institute, Mr. Swedlow notes, “I’m particularly proud that we were able to change the way research is accomplished in workers’ compensation by pioneering new methods of large-scale data development, publishing practical and objective research and commentary, and expanding collaboration across our industry. The Institute is more vital than ever and has the right staff to continue the work supporting our members and other industry stakeholders. Although I love the work and my colleagues at CWCI, after more than three decades I realize it is time for me to pursue some other things that make life worthwhile.”

The CWCI Board of Directors has formed a search committee to begin the task of screening candidates and selecting the next President of the Institute as Mr. Swedlow continues in the role through next summer.

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The California Workers’ Compensation Institute, established in 1964, is a private, nonprofit organization of insurers licensed to write workers' compensation in California, as well as public and private self-insured employers, who serve as associate members. CWCI’s primary function is to generate reliable, objective data that can be used to identify and monitor system-wide trends, assist members in assessing their own operations, and to analyze key issues of interest to the workers’ compensation community and public policymakers. Toward that end, the Institute also produces a wide variety of research publications, provides information and technical training to help industry professionals stay abreast of changes, and serves as a forum where members can consider system-wide issues and reach consensus on practical solutions. CWCI members include insurers that write more than 76 percent of the workers’ compensation business in the state, and two dozen public and private self-insured employers. The Institute’s website is www.cwci.org.