Ron Insana: Biography

by: Katie Krause

Before becoming a senior analyst for CNBC, Ron Insana had his dreams set on pursuing a career in music or film. He was a music major at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles before transferring to California State University Northridge and majoring in film.

After graduating with honors from CSUN, Insana found work as a production assistant at Financial News Network. While working at FNN, Insana was nominated for a Golden Ace Award for his coverage of the 1987 stock market crash. In 1991, he joined CNBC in the merger with FNN.

Since joining CNBC, Insana served as lead anchor on the show “Street Signs,” now anchored by Erin Burnett. Insana was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Award for his coverage of 9/11. According to CNBC.com, he was named one of the top 100 business news journalists of the century by TJFR Group in 1999. In the past two years, Insana has also garnered two exclusive interviews with President George W. Bush.

Insana claims he never intended to be on air; that it was an “accident.” In 2006, he left the anchor chair and took on the job of senior analyst. However, he appears on “Squawk Box” once a month, and often contributes to other NBC shows when market activity warrants.

Insana has since published three books, “Traders; Tales,” “The Message of the Markets,” and “Trend Watching: How to Avoid Wall Street’s Next Fads, Manias and Bubbles.”

As for the future, Insana sees himself publishing a financial newsletter and starting his own business. He is also actively involved in various charities including: The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The Robin Hood Foundation, Junior Achievement of New York and Autism Speaks.