People and Places

Lockton Companies, Inc., the Kansas City, Mo.-based privately owned insurance broker, has opened a New York retail office, vowing to target complex middle-market clients and take a focused approach towards the Fortune 1000 and selected industries. Since the first of the year, Lockton says it has attracted more than a dozen professionals and has already begun providing services to clients in the greater New York market.

Lockton’s New York office is being led by Co-Presidents Michael Calabrese and Garrett Mathieson, who join Lockton after careers with national brokerage competitors. Calabrese formerly headed Aon’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice while Mathieson previously held the position of vice chairman for Willis Risk Solutions North America.

Lockton New York also announced additional hires, including Paul Kobyra to lead its Casualty Practice; Gary Phillips to lead its Financial Services Practice; Brad Hart to lead its Technical Services Practice (Claims & Loss Control) and Maria McHugh to lead its Employee Benefits Practice.

Kobyra joins Lockton from Marsh’s Northeastern zone. Phillips most recently was with Wachovia Insurance Services’ Executive Liability team while Hart joins Lockton from Willis North America. McHugh joins Lockton from Frank Crystal where she led their Employee Benefits Practice in New York.

In addition, Lockton has added several key management and technical executives in New York including Richard Allen (formerly of Willis North America), Roger DeBerardine and Jude Donato (formerly of Aon Risk Services), Diana Eglin (RLI Insurance Group) and Chad Marrison (Marsh).

Bermuda-based United America Indemnity Ltd. has appointed Robert Cohen as president and chief executive officer of its subsidiary, Penn Independent Corporation in Hatboro, Pa. Cohen has been acting president and CEO since November 2005. From 1992, he was a senior vice president for United National Group and, from 1971, he held various management positions at Delaware Valley Underwriting Agency Inc., both subsidiaries of the company. Penn Independent Corporation, a wholesale broker and underwriter, markets its products through Delaware Valley Underwriting Agency, Inc; Apex Insurance Agency, and Residential Underwriting Agency, Inc.

Kip A. Thomas has been promoted to assistant vice president in the Personal Lines Division at TD Banknorth Insurance Agency, Inc. in South Portland, Maine. A private client insurance agent, he will be responsible for high net worth personal lines sales to clients in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Thomas joined TD Banknorth in 1999 and previously has served as a senior account executive. TD Banknorth Insurance Agency, Inc., New England’s largest insurance agency, is a division of TD Banknorth, N.A.

Hub International Limited has made several management changes in its New England operation. Charles J. Brophy will assume the role of president and chief executive officer of insurance brokerage Hub International New England (Hub New England). Brophy will succeed Richard J. Palleschi, who will remain as vice chairman.

Other Hub New England senior leadership positions include: Michael S. Chapman, who assumes the position of chief operating officer while retaining his current role as chief sales officer; William C. Brouillard, who remains as executive vice president and treasurer; and David DiPerna, who continues in his role as head of the Risk Management Department.

These three, together with Brophy and Palleschi, will form the Hub New England executive management team.

Hub New England, formerly known as C.J. McCarthy Insurance Agency Inc., is based in Wilmington, Mass. Last month, Hub announced it was acquiring agencies from Citizens Bank, including two in the Boston area. Headquartered in Chicago, Hub International is an insurance brokerage operating in the United States and Canada.

Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut Inc. elected officers during the association’s annual convention at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. Following are the new officers who will lead PIACT in 2006-2007: President John DiMatteo, of Bethany. DiMatteo is president of A.A. DiMatteo Insurance Service Center with offices in Trumbull, Orange and Bethany, Conn.; President-elect Christopher Wilson of Bristol. Wilson is general manager for C.V. Mason & Co. in Bristol, Conn; Vice president James Goodman of Shelton. Goodman is president of Goodman Insurance Inc. in Shelton, Conn.; Vice president Michael F. Keating of W. Hartford. Keating is president of Michael J. Keating Agency Inc. in W. Hartford, Conn.; Treasurer Diane L. Eger of North Haven. Eger is vice president of Orange Insurance Center in Orange, Conn. Secretary Howard Olderman of Woodmont. Olderman is vice president and producer of Olderman and Hallihan Agency Inc. in Ansonia, Conn.; and Joseph Bishop III of Branford, vice president and secretary of Associated Insurance Agencies Inc. in Hamden, Conn. will serve as immediate past president.

Selective Insurance Group, Inc., in Branchville, N.J., announced the following executive appointments: Diederik Olijslager (Lafayette, N.J.), to vice president, Selective Insurance Group, and senior vice president, head of fixed income, Selective Insurance Company of America. Olijslager joined Selective in 2001 as assistant vice president, fixed income analyst.

Daniel Bravo (Lafayette, N.J.) to senior vice president of Selective’s knowledge management operations. Bravo joined Selective in 2002 as vice president of information technology. Prior to joining Selective, he was an information systems operations manager with Liberty Mutual Insurance Group.

Fred Ferraro (New Providence, N.J.) to vice president and equity portfolio co-manager of Selective’s Investment Group. Ferraro joined Selective in July 2003 as a senior equity research analyst.

Robert Lippman (Buffalo, N.Y.) to vice president and regional director of Selective’s staff counsel for the New York State region. Lippman joined Selective in June 2004 as managing attorney for the Buffalo office. Prior to that, he was the senior trial counsel for Fireman’s Fund in Buffalo.

Thomas Romando (Marlton, N.J.) to vice president and regional director of Selective’s staff counsel for New Jersey. Romando joined Selective in September 1996 as managing attorney for Selective’s Hamilton, N.J. staff counsel office. Prior to that, he was managing attorney for Aetna Casualty & Surety Co.’s southern New Jersey staff counsel office.