American International Group Inc. (AIG) elected Edward M. Liddy as chairman and CEO. Liddy, 62, succeeds Robert B. Willumstad.

Stephen F. Bollenbach, who was named lead independent director in June 2008, continues in that role.

Liddy joined the private equity firm of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Inc. this year after serving as chairman of The Allstate Corp. since January 2007.

Prior to that, he was Allstate chairman and CEO from 1999 until 2006 and president and chief operating officer from 1994 until 1998. He led the initial public offering and 1995 spin-off of Allstate from Sears, Roebuck and Co.

At Sears, Liddy served as senior vice president and chief financial officer and as senior vice president-operating. Prior to that, Liddy was chief financial officer of G. D. Searle & Co.

The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame honored three outstanding leaders, legends and innovators in the insurance industry at the fifteenth annual induction ceremony of the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame on Sept. 17, 2008, on the campus of Olivet College.

Janet K. Holstine president of Insurance Educators, Thomas C. Jones, insurance executive and former insurance commissioner, and Norman J. E. Roe, former vice chairman of Foremost Insurance Company, were inducted.

Ninety-two industry leaders, family and friends attended the dinner, including the founder of Foremost, Richard Riebel; the president of Northwestern Michigan College, Dr. Timothy Nelson; Larry and Faylene Owen; and the founder of Hagerty Insurance, Louise Hagerty.

The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame was established at Olivet College in 1994 as a way to pay tribute to individuals who have made a significant impact on the ability of the Michigan insurance and risk management industry to serve the public.

Ben Blackmon has been named zone vice president of the State Auto Middle Market Insurance (SAMMI) Midwest Zone office in Naperville in suburban Chicago.

Blackmon began his insurance career as an independent insurance agent in Maryland. After selling his agency and joining State Auto as a senior commercial specialist, Blackmon held various management positions, including territory manager, regional manager, and director of commercial lines underwriting. He was a program manager before joining State Auto Middle Market Insurance in 2007 as Central Zone manager, based in Columbus.

Tracy McConnell has been named benefits practice leader with IMA of Kansas’ Overland Park office.

McConnell has more than 18 years of employee benefits experience, specializing in group life/disability and absence management. He will lead IMA’s growth in employee benefits business in northeast Kansas and Missouri.

IMA identifies itself as the 21st largest privately held retail insurance broker in the U.S., offering a full range of insurance, employee benefits, surety and risk management products.

Peter S. Valentine has been elected assistant secretary by the boards of directors of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Co. and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Co.

Valentine is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He volunteers as a tutor at State Auto’s adopted school, Deshler Elementary in Columbus, and with Project Mentor, which focuses on the academic, social and emotional development of children in the Columbus City Schools.

Valentine, 43, joined the State Auto Insurance Companies in 2004 as an actuary, and currently serves as manager of business insurance actuarial. Valentine previously served Zurich North American and Royal & SunAlliance in various actuarial roles.

Iroquois Group Great Lakes has added Tonya Wentz as regional manager for the state of Illinois.

Prior to joining Iroquois, Wentz worked with Pekin Insurance and Royal and Sun Alliance, as well as with broker Willis Corroon.

Wentz responsibilities with Iroquois’ carrier-partners and member agencies will be to increase production and manage profitability.

The Iroquois Group has more than 1,700 member independent agents nationwide.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) awarded Patrick Faga, president/CEO, Central Iowa Mutual Insurance Association, Story, Iowa, with the Professional Farm Mutual Manager of the Year Award during NAMIC’s annual convention, held Sept. 28 – Oct. 1 in Philadelphia.

The award recognizes the achievements of a farm mutual manager who exemplifies excellence in mutual insurance company management. The recipient is selected based on excellence in marketing, administration, and financial ability as well as his/her involvement in state and national associations, and in the local community.

Under Faga’s guidance, the Central Iowa Mutual Insurance Association has seen dramatic improvement, including a 21 percent increase in written premium; a 152 percent surplus increase; and a 19 percent expense ratio reduction.

Sixteen others received the PFMM designation at the ceremony in Philadelphia.

Topics Auto Agencies Michigan Iowa Employee Benefits