People and Places

Boston-based insurance broker William Gallagher Associates has promoted Mary McMahon-Burke, Brian Kelleher and Diane Bradley to vice president.

McMahon-Burke has 25 years experience in the insurance industry, and provides services to WGA clients in the high technology, biotechnology and manufacturing industries, with specialization in worker’s compensation experience modification issues. Prior to joining WGA in June 1999, she was with Boston Special Risks.

Kelleher has been in the insurance industry for 12 years, spending the last five with WGA. He works with risk management, technology and life science companies.

Bradley has more than 25 years experience as an insurance broker. Prior to joining WGA in February 2003, she was with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. responsible for marketing all new business. She handles a diversified book of business that includes high technology, biotechnology, manufacturing and general commercial.

Mt. Washington Assurance Corp. announced Richard Middleton has joined the company as its general manager. In this newly created role, he will be responsible for directing the insurer’s strategy for growth in New Hampshire. Middleton will initially focus on the implementation of Mt. Washington’s recently announced new underwriting model, which will enable its agents to deliver more competitive rates for individual drivers. Middleton has a background that includes 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, with the past nine years in management roles with the Electric Insurance Co.

Headquartered in Concord, N.H., Mt. Washington is a member of The Plymouth Rock Group of Companies.

B. H. Burke & Co. Inc., of Westbrook, Conn. has promoted Everett W. Shaw to a partner and vice president. The announcement was made by Brian H. Burke, president and founder. Shaw has been with the company since 2003, having worked previously for Prudential Securities and Joseph Merritt & Co. Shaw participates in all aspects of the company’s consulting assignments and manages the company’s renewing-services activities.

The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey Inc. awarded Thomas P. O’Brien its Company Person of the Year award at the association’s annual conference. O’Brien is a small account specialist for the Hanover Insurance Group. O’Brien has been in the insurance industry for more than 40 years and with Hanover for nearly five years.

PIANJ also honored Andrew Harris with the Distinguished Insurance Service award. Harris is president of Liberty Insurance Associates in Englishtown, N.J.; Liberty Consulting Co., a risk management consulting firm; and Liberty Life Associates. Harris also is the president of Proformance Insurance Co.

The Distinguished Insurance Service award recognizes an individual with a history of service, leadership and attention to the concerns of independent agents.

The National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds has selected property/casualty trade association executive Roger H. Schmelzer to serve as its next chief executive. Schmelzer will begin his duties with the Indianapolis-based organization on June 5. Schmelzer comes to NCIGF following seven years as senior vice president for state and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

He will be only the second president of NCIGF, following Dale Stephenson who stepped down last December after 15 years in the position.

Schmelzer’s background includes service as chief of staff and counsel to the speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, as well as the House minority leader. He also was a top aide to U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar and practiced law at Kightlinger & Gray in Indianapolis.

Anthony J. Pirri has joined the Commercial Insurance Group at TD Banknorth Insurance Agency, Inc. in Methuen, Mass. As an account executive, he is responsible for commercial insurance sales to middle market customers in Massachusetts. TD Banknorth Insurance Agency, Inc. is a division of TD Banknorth, N.A.

Markel Corp. in Richmond, Va., has named D. Michael Jones senior vice president and general counsel. Jones brings 25 years of experience to Markel. In his new role, Jones will support the senior executive team.

Prior to joining Markel, Jones was a partner at McGuireWoods LLP in Richmond. At McGuireWoods, he represented Markel in financing transactions and related securities registrations. He also counseled publicly held clients on compliance with federal regulations, such as those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

The Distinguished Programs Group LLC named Jeremy Hitzig chief executive officer. Andy Potash, founder and former chief executive officer, will remain as chairman of the board. Carla Vel will continue in her current position as president and chief operating officer. Both Hitzig and Vel have been nominated to the company’s board of directors.

Hitzig joined Distinguished Programs in 1995 and has served in a variety of capacities, most recently as senior vice president with executive responsibility for marketing, community association programs and S.E.S. Insurance Brokerage Services, a recently acquired program manager for bank managed trust property portfolios.

New York-based Distinguished Programs also announced the consolidation of underwriting, marketing and claims management under the leadership of Helen English, who was recently promoted to senior vice president. English joined Distinguished Programs in 2000 and was responsible for the structuring and placement of the company’s programs with insurers and reinsurers.

Jim Tesoriero, senior vice president, has assumed executive responsibility for the community association programs and branch operations in addition to management of the firm’s Property Owners Program. Tesoriero joined Distinguished in 1999.

David F. “Bud” Wilson received the most distinguished honor the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America bestows upon an individual when he was presented with the Woodworth Memorial Award recently. Wilson is CEO of Wilson Insurance Agency in Chula Vista, Calif. The award is in memory of C.H. Woodworth of Buffalo, N.Y.