Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services Commissioner Linda A. Watters named Andy Schor as the new public information officer. As PIO, Schor’s responsibilities will be to share the priorities and initiatives of OFIS with the public. He will work with the media on inquiries and announcements dealing with important financial and insurance services issues in Michigan.
Schor comes to OFIS from the Michigan Legislature, where he served as legislative and communications director for State Rep. Paul F. Condino. Prior to that, he served in the same role for State Sen. Gary C. Peters. He also has extensive communications experience through his work on many political campaigns for public office. In addition to his legislative work, Schor also serves as an elected member of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. He represents Southeast Lansing on the Ingham County Commission.
Rick Kekula, executive vice president of Mortenson, Matzelle & Meldum Inc., has been elected 2005 president of RiskProNet International, a network of 28 leading independent insurance brokers throughout the United States and Canada. As executive vice president at M3, Kekula is responsible for long-range planning and mergers and acquisitions. His responsibilities also include growth initiatives and strategic partnerships for the agency. In addition, he manages the new business development team, working closely with sales management on client cross-selling and retention. He joined M3 in 1985 to start the property and casualty division.
Kekula succeeds Robert W. Lampus, senior vice president and general counsel for Dawson Insurance Inc., in Cleveland, Ohio, whose term expired at the end of 2004.
Schaumburg, Ill.-based Zurich North America has appointed Joseph Wells, 45, as director of its workers’ compensation line of business. Wells succeeds Bob Rheel, who was named CEO of Zurich’s general insurance operations in Ireland. In his new role, Wells will work closely with chief underwriting officers and other business unit leaders to direct the company’s workers’ compensation programs in North America through detailed analysis and implementation of best practice thinking and tools.
Wells has been an integral member of Zurich’s comp unit since its inception in 2002, most recently as senior project manager. He joined the organization from Fireman’s Fund, where he held a variety of product line leadership roles. He has also worked with a number of other major carriers, including AIG, TIG, Wausau and USF&G.
Ohio Department of Insurance Director Ann Womer Benjamin has named Brent Walls Assistant Director for Policy and Legislation. Wall joins the department from the Office of Criminal Justice Services where he served in the dual role of director of legislative affairs and interim assistant director since 2000 and early 2004, respectively. Walls, who will oversee the department’s policy and legislation staff and work to develop and implement the legislative agenda, replaces Holly Saelens, who was named the department’s deputy director in June 2004 and has been serving in both roles.
Prior to the Office of Criminal Justice Services, Walls worked in the Ohio House of Representatives, including a two-year stint as Womer Benjamin’s administrative and legislative aide and as campaign manager for former State Rep. Jeffrey H. Manning.
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. added veteran property/casualty insurance lobbyist Justin Roth to its Washington, D.C., office. Formerly a senior lobbyist with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, Roth becomes senior director of government affairs for NAMIC. Roth brings a substantial P/C insurance background with him after leaving the Big “I” after almost four years of service with its government affairs team. Prior to that, Roth was legislative assistant to former Florida Republican Rep. Joe Scarborough.
Susan Voss was appointed commissioner of the Iowa Insurance Division, replacing longtime friend-to-the-industry Terri Vaughan. Voss, who previously served as first deputy insurance commissioner, took over the agency on Jan. 1, 2005. She replaced longtime Commissioner Terri Vaughan, who left for a position with Drake University.
Chicago-based commercial insurer CNA Financial Corp. announced that Raye Singer has joined CNA insurance companies as vice president of CNA Excess & Surplus Lines. CNA E&S is written through Columbia Casualty Co. Singer has worked in the E&S market for nearly 20 years with responsibilities at Fireman’s Fund Insurance and Interstate Insurance, a subsidiary of Fireman’s. In her new role at CNA, she will continue the development of program and captive capabilities as well as enhance existing and develop new managing general underwriter and broker relationships.
JLT Services Corp., a U.S. subsidiary of the U.K.-based broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc, announced the appointment of Cliff McConville as senior vice president of Business Development for the JLT Affinity Solutions operation based in Chicago. McConville will be responsible for acquiring new affinity relationships in medical insurance, life and disability programs for JLT, which has offices in New York, Connecticut and Illinois.
North Canton, Ohio-based pet insurer Hartville Group Inc. announced that Joshua Feldman has joined the company as its chief financial officer. Feldman is an insurance professional of some 14 years. He is a senior financial executive with superior analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills. Friedman is a a former vice president of finance for PIE Mutual Insurance.
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