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The San Diego office of Lockton Cos. hired Bud Cole in the company’s employee benefits practice as vice president and senior consultant. Cole will serve as a liaison between clients and the Lockton benefits team, responsible for managing client relationships and client services delivery. He brings more than 14 years of experience in the health care industry.

Previously, Cole served as a health and welfare consultant for Alliance Insurance Services and ABD Insurance Services.

Riverside-based Patrion Insurance named Dennis Silva a senior sales executive. Previously, he spent six years as a broker with an Orange County insurance brokerage. He also spent five years with a large regional insurance agency, where he completed training at the Hartford School of Insurance and The National Surety Bond Producers School. Silva specializes in commercial insurance for the action and motor sports industries, contractors and construction, bonds, special events, manufacturers and retailers and distributors.

Willis Group Holdings appointed Eric Joost as national partner, North American Specialties. He will be based in New York and will lead client service and product development strategy across many of the company’s industry, product and client specialties in North America, including its construction, environmental, executive risk, healthcare, financial institutions, real estate, life sciences, technology and telecommunications, and utilities and mining practices, along with Willis Risk Solutions (Large Accounts) and the Japan Practice.

Joost most recently served as national partner, North American Executive Risks Practice. He has held various executive roles at Willis, including Middle Market Segment leader and Client Advocacy leader. He brings 20 years of industry experience to his new role.

Patrick Lundy was appointed head of energy for Zurich North America Commercial. He assumes responsibility for managing the insurer’s domestic energy business in North America, including collaborating with leaders of Zurich’s global energy business in North America to help mitigate the sophisticated risks facing energy customers.

Lundy joins Zurich from Travelers, where he was vice president of Field Management & Operations for its Oil and Gas division. He previously served at AIG as vice president of Divisional Corporate Account Segment Manager for its Global Marine & Energy Excess Casualty unit. Lundy will be based in Houston.

Bermuda-based XL Capital Ltd. appointed W. Myron Hendry to the new chief platform officer position, based in Stamford, Conn. He joined XL on December 1 and will be responsible for all operational IT support of XL’s businesses, including business process, technology, and outsourcing.

Hendry has held numerous senior level operations leadership positions in the global insurance industry. Most recently, he was business operations executive of Bank of America’s Insurance Group. He was also the co-leader for the transition and integration of Bank of America and Countrywide Insurance organizations.

Prior to the merger, Hendry served as managing director and chief operating officer for Countrywide’s Insurance Services Group. He joined Countrywide from Safeco where, as senior vice president – Property & Casualty Services from 2004-2006, he was responsible for Safeco’s five regional policy and claim service center operations, centralized business support, premium accounting, retention strategies and the end-to-end customer experience.

The California Council of National Association of Insurance Women International has awarded Wendy Pike received the Gayle Reskin Angel Award for her dedication behind the scenes of CA Council of NAIW International. The award is presented to a member that would not otherwise be recognized and is given in memory of the late Gayle Reskin.

The California Council also elected for the 2010 term: California Council Director Elect Kathleen Kerstenbeck, San Diego Insurance Women; Public Relations Chairman Elect Mitula Patel, Insurance Women of Los Angeles; Membership Chairman Elect Kim Cameron, Insurance Women of Fresno.

The California Representatives to Region VIII Nominating Committee will be delegate Regina Lemanowicz, Insurance Women of North San Diego County, and alternate Jolene Gilbert, Insurance Professionals of Kings & Tulare Counties

Edgewood Partners Insurance Center appointed Joe Vineis principal in its San Francisco office. Vineis brings more than 20 years of experience in the insurance brokerage business. His responsibilities at EPIC will include acquiring new retail clients, managing the development of the risk management and insurance programs, and building and leading the Retail Practice.

Prior to joining EPIC, Vineis spent almost 17 years with Willis and HRH, a national broker acquired by Willis in 2008, where he was most recently senior vice president and director of the Retail Practice. He began his insurance career with broker Frenkel & Co. in New York.

The Buckner Co. of Ogden, Utah, added Alan Seegrist as vice president and practice leader of the Employee Benefits division.

Seegrist is an insurance professional and legislative leader with more than 20 years experience. His career began in 1989, and he opened his own agency, Seegrist and Associates. He is a member of the Utah Health Exchange Implementation Committee.

Topics California Agencies Human Resources