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College of Business dedicates facility in honor of alumnus Barry Stowe

Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 | 

The Lipscomb University College of Business dedicated a newly renovated auditorium in honor of Nashville native Barry Stowe, CEO of Prudential Asia, in a special ceremony Feb. 21.

Stowe Hall Ribbon CuttingStowe Hall, located in Swang Business Center on the Lipscomb campus, recently underwent a major facelift due to a gift from Stowe and his wife, Sherri, both graduates of Lipscomb University.

“This auditorium is a state-of-the-art space that is used daily,” said Turney Stevens, dean of the College of Business. We appreciate Barry and Sherri’s generosity in renovating this facility that is such a vital part of the College of Business.”

Stowe Hall, is a 2,900-square-foot auditorium, formerly known as “Swang 108,” that was part of the Swang Center when it was built in 1982.

“This community looks forward to the impact this vibrant facility will have on our students for years and years to come,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry at the dedication ceremony. “There is no real way to measure the impact of what will happen in this auditorium… the number of faculty who will teach here or what has been achieved in this very place over the past 30 years since it opened. But, we are not about building buildings. We are about transforming lives. What you (Barry and Sherri) have done for us is to create the space where that transformation will take place.”

On hand to help dedicate Stowe Hall was Tidjane Thiam, group chief executive officer of Prudential plc, London.

“I am honored to be a part of this special occasion,” said Thiam. “I have the honor of knowing Barry very well and calling him my friend. Education is very close to my heart. I wouldn’t be here today without education. I am pleased that Stowe Hall will help educate generations of students to come.”

Stowe Hall_Barry StoweStowe said he looks forward to seeing how Stowe Hall will provide numerous educational opportunities for students.

“Lipscomb University is a place that continues to have a tremendous impact on mine and Sherrie’s lives,” said Stowe. “This university has such an impact on the world. This auditorium will provide a venue for many events such as a global lecture series among others. This provides Lipscomb with another opportunity to impact the community and for the community to impact the university with the learning that will take place in this room.”

The Hon. Motohiko Kato, consul-general of Japan, Michael Wells, CEO of Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and Allison Duke, associate professor of management at Lipscomb, also made remarks at the dedication ceremony.

Following his graduation from Lipscomb in 1979, Stowe launched his career at the Nashville-based insurance firm then known as Corroon & Black (now Willis, a global risk management and insurance brokerage), where he spent 12 years. From 1992 to 1995 he was president and CEO of Nisus, a subsidiary of Pan-American Life. Following those years and before joining Prudential, he was president of Accident & Health Worldwide for AIG Life Companies, based in Hong Kong, with more than 100 operations across six continents. Under his leadership, AIG became a global market leader in accident and health insurance. Stowe has been chief executive officer of Prudential Corporation Asia since October 2006.

In his current role at Prudential Asia, Stowe is responsible for a network of life insurance, fund management and consumer finance operations spanning 13 diverse markets across Asia where Prudential is one of Asia’s largest asset managers.

Stowe lives in Hong Kong with his wife and their three daughters. They also maintain a home in Nashville.

Stowe is a member of the board of directors of the International Insurance Society,  a member of the College of Business’ board of visitors, a member of the board of managers of the Hong Kong International School and chairman of Save the Children (HK) Ltd.