Gerald O’Neill has been named NBIS vice president of underwriting. O’Neill comes to NBIS with more than 20 years of insurance experience in the brokerage and reinsurance community.
O’Neill has held multiple senior level executive positions over the years with such companies as AIG, Transamerica Insurance Group and Markel. O’Neill will be implementing a variety of programs designed by NBIS to service the general liability needs of contractors throughout the United States. He will also work to develop a network of insurance agents and brokers in the contractors’ insurance market in the Eastern U.S.
The Allstate Corporation elected Thomas Wilson president and chief operating officer. In this position, Wilson will be responsible for all of Allstate’s insurance operations, including those of Allstate Protection and Allstate Financial. Wilson is currently and will remain president of Allstate Protection, which combines the Allstate and Encompass property and casualty offerings through Allstate and Independent Agencies, respectively.
He was chairman and president of Allstate Financial from 1999 to 2002, where he spearheaded that business unit’s drive into the design and distribution of an expanded range of financial products aimed at meeting the retirement needs of Allstate customers. Prior to his role at Allstate Financial, Wilson served as Allstate’s chief financial officer.
Wilson joined Allstate in 1995 from Sears, Roebuck and Co., where he had been vice president of strategy and analysis, responsible for strategic planning, financial planning and analysis, and special projects for the corporation. Prior to Sears, he was managing director of mergers and acquisitions at Dean Witter Reynolds, and also held various financial positions at Amoco Corporation.
Atlanta-based Beecher Carlson has announced three promotions: Paul Pachomski has been appointed senior vice president in its New York office, while Mike LaRocca will be executive managing director, and Mike Blechermanaging director in its Los Angeles office. Beecher Carlson opened its Los Angeles office in May 2005 and also has offices in Woodland Hills and Irvine, Calif.
Pachomski will be responsible its national energy practice. He joins a team of energy industry experts led by Robert Bothwell, a former principal at William Gallagher Associates.
Pachomski has more than 30 years experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry with energy and multinational property accounts. He spent 16 years at Aon Specialty Re and its legacy companies. In his most recent position, Pachomski served as executive vice president of its Property practice, where he developed specialized reinsurance solutions for Energy and large line accounts. Pachomski has also served as president and COO and executive vice president, focusing on production and strategic development.
Pachomski was also vice president for London-based Pearson Webb Springbett. He was an underwriter for the American Foreign Insurance Association, where he managed property captive programs, and an underwriting manager for Cigna Worldwide specializing in international energy accounts.
LaRocca and Blecher will be responsible for increasing existing business in Southern California and expanding operations to additional locations in the Western United States.
LaRocca has more than 25 years insurance industry experience in revenue growth and sales leadership. He was formerly regional executive officer at Willis North America, responsible for eight southeastern offices. He spent 12 years at Aon Risk Services in a variety of executive positions, including northeast regional director, responsible for 11 offices. LaRocca was Aon’s resident managing director in Cleveland and regional sales manager of offices in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
LaRocca has held executive positions at Johnson & Higgins. He began his risk management career as a producer at Marsh & McLennan. Prior to his risk management career, LaRocca was a litigation attorney with Rose, Schmidt & Dixon in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Blecher has more than 25 years insurance experience specializing in comprehensive insurance programs for maritime business. He has worked with several of the world’s largest marine and energy companies.
Blecher was formerly a senior vice president, partner at Lockton Companies managing client relations and new business development. He also helped establish Oland International, a Los Angeles-based marine insurance firm. He pioneered special insurance arrangements as evidence of financial responsibility required by the government for tanker operations. While at Oland, Blecher received an endorsement from the Historic Naval Ships Association for his work insuring the maritime museums and historic ships of the United States.
Lloyd’s U.S. office announced the appointment of Thor Valdmanis as vice president, Communications, for North America. In the newly created post, he will be responsible for all media activities and promotions in the region.
Valdmanis will be based in Lloyd’s New York office and will report to Wendy Baker, Lloyd’s America president.
Lloyd’s also noted that it will occupy new offices alongside the Museum of Modern Art.
Hayden Burrus has been elected president-elect of the Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast, a regional affiliate of the Casualty Actuarial Society The announcement was made by AmCOMP, Inc. of North Palm Beach, Fla.
Burrus, of Delray Beach, Fla., has been vice president and chief actuary of AmCOMP since he joined the firm in August 2002. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. His prior experience includes actuarial consulting services on workers’ compensation reserve related issues, and previous employment with the National Council on Compensation Insurance.
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