Tom Hughston, executive vice president of North Texas-based Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB), has been named to the board of directors of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, a trade association representing domestic and international commercial insurance agents and brokers.

Hughston, whose insurance career spans more than 20 years, joined RHSB in 1991 as a principal and shareholder, and was appointed to the board of directors in 1995. In addition to serving the needs of his clients, he oversees the sales and marketing efforts for the firm. Prior to joining RHSB, Hughston was an executive practice leader for Chubb Insurance.

The board works in concert with the top officers of The Council. For 2009, Markham R. McKnight, of Baton Rouge, La., and president of BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc., is the chairman of The Council.

Other Council officers include Vice Chairman H. Wade Reece, president of BB&T Insurance Services of Raleigh, N.C.; Treasurer James R. Pender, honorary chairman of the board of Oswald Companies in Cleveland, Ohio, and chairman emeritus of Oswald, Trippe & Company in Florida; and Secretary David E. McGurn Jr., president, special marketing and international division, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Itasca, Ill.

Commercial insurance brokerage and risk management consultancy Beecher Carlson appointed Steve Levene managing director. Levene will establish an office in Dallas to expand Beecher Carlson’s footprint in Texas.

Levene will partner with Scott Davis, executive managing director of Beecher Carlson’s Risk Management Practice, to develop, implement and manage complex risk management programs for clients in addition to providing sales leadership for select producers.

Prior to joining Beecher Carlson, Levene served as executive vice president for Lockton where he was responsible for large account brokerage from their Dallas office. He also served as an executive committee member where he provided strategic leadership.

Levene also has served as vice president at Marsh where he developed and managed large accounts. He also worked at Sedgewick prior to its acquisition by Marsh. He started his insurance career as an underwriter at Crum and Forster.

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) appointed Annie Spilman governmental affairs manager.

Spilman will serve as liaison between IIAT members and legislators. Her responsibilities will include analyzing legislative measures and proposed actions, monitoring regulatory activities, managing IIAT’s political action programs and handling member communications regarding governmental matters.

In her seven years of state service, Spilman has worked alongside members of the Texas Legislature on an array of policy issues that affect the citizens of Texas. Spilman joins IIAT from Steve Bresnen & Associates where she communicated directly with members of both the House and Senate daily and prepared legislative materials as a legislative consultant.

Spilman also spent two years overseeing the nine-member Human Services committee in the Texas House of Representatives, hearing testimony from and working with the elderly, individuals with mental health illnesses and disabilities, and advocates from across the state.

Shreveport, La.-based Specialty Risk Associates Inc. has added Keri Hanchey and Terri Prince to its Baton Rouge branch team.

Hanchey has joined as a commercial lines underwriter. She has more than 20 years’ experience placing property and casualty coverage in the Louisiana area.

Prince is an assistant underwriter for commercial lines. She has more than five years’ experience in the insurance industry.

Austin, Texas-based Medicus Insurance Co. appointed Mark D. Johnson vice president and chief financial officer.

Prior to joining Medicus, Johnson served as interim CFO and director of business analysis for workers’ compensation insurer New Mexico Mutual Group. At New Mexico Mutual, Johnson’s responsibilities included financial analysis and planning, information technology development, and ratings agency relations.

Medicus is a specialty physician liability insurer. Founded in 2006, Medicus is admitted to do business in 16 states and insures approximately 2,000 medical professionals across all practice specialties.

San Antonio-based Texas Security General Insurance Agency Inc. has hired Andy Meurer as senior broker and Debbie Grimsley as commercial underwriter in its Commercial Brokerage/Underwriting departments.

Meurer has worked in the industry for more than 38 years with a proven track record of creating positive working relationships with independent agents all over Texas, as well as providing viable solutions for clients’ brokerage needs.

Grimsley brings more than 20 years experience in both contract and broker business.

Aon Consulting Worldwide announced that Debi Heck joined its Health & Benefits practice as a national expert on wellness and population health management. She is based in the Houston office.

Heck brings 18 years of industry experience to her new position. She is responsible for large market clients in the areas of integrated program strategy and design, market analysis, vendor selection, program implementation and evaluation, and vendor reporting.

Topics Texas Agencies