People

Toledo, Ohio-based privately held commercial insurance brokerage, the Hylant Group, has named John W. Chaney as president of the Cleveland office and regional vice president.

Chaney will be responsible for the overall management of the Cleveland office, while overseeing the Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, offices and the Nashville, Tenn., office. He will continue to serve as a large account practice leader and be involved in all corporate business development activities as a member of the office of the chairman.

The Cleveland office will continue to focus on the expansion of the large and middle market sector.

His new responsibilities were previously held by Mike Hylant, who has accepted new responsibilities for Hylant Group and will be transitioning to the company’s headquarters in Toledo.

Prior to joining Hylant three years ago as vice president of Business Development and member of the office of the chairman, Chaney was the chief executive officer for Willis’ Cleveland operation for six years.

The Westfield Group named Roger McManus to the newly created position of chief operating officer for Westfield Group and Jim Clay to replace him as president.

The appointment as COO recognizes McManus on his nearly 10 years leading Westfield’s property and casualty insurance operations. In that time, Westfield has more than doubled statutory surplus. In his new role, McManus assumes additional responsibilities for developing synergies between the insurance operations and Westfield Financial, which includes Westfield Bank, insurance brokerage, structured settlement and title insurance operations, in addition to overseeing a transition of leadership to Clay.

Clay assumes leadership responsibility for Westfield’s commercial lines and personal lines operations. He most recently served as senior executive for Personal Lines and Small Business Accounts. Prior to that, Clay was senior executive, Commercial Lines, responsible for all commercial package business in Westfield’s 17 property and casualty states. Clay began his insurance career with Westfield in 1980.

Colemont Insurance Brokers promoted Matt Carpenter to broker in the company’s Chicago office.

Carpenter joined Colemont five years ago, specializing in casualty. His areas of expertise now includes transportation, products liability, umbrella/excess, contracting risks and program business.

Colemont Insurance Brokers also promoted Andrea Watkins to broker in the Chicago office.

Watkins joined Colemont in 2004 as part of a casualty brokerage team. Previously she spent two years as a marketing associate for a primary transportation insurance company. Transportation coverages Watkins can place include both primary and excess auto liability, general liability, cargo and physical damage. General casualty lines include primary and excess liability for products, contractors and other classes of business. She is also a member of the Chicago Insurance Associates.

The Insurance Institute of Michigan (IIM) recently held elections during its annual meeting in Lansing.

Mike Puerner, vice president, secretary and general counsel of Hastings Mutual Insurance Co., Hastings, Mich. was elected chair of the IIM for a one-year term that began Nov. 27, 2007. Puerner succeeds David Field, regional counsel of Allstate Insurance Co., Southfield, Mich.

Jeanette Hisek, Michigan product manager at Progressive Insurance, Mayfield Village, Ohio, was elected vice chair of IIM. Bob Donnay, manager industry/government relations for GMAC Insurance, Southfield, Mich. was elected secretary. James Wilds, senior vice president of Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Co., Frankenmuth, Mich. was elected treasurer.

Five individuals were elected to three-year terms on the IIM Executive Committee. They are: Dan Schrock, state executive director at Farmers Insurance Group, Howell; Mich.; David Sitz, lead counsel at Nationwide Insurance Co., Buffalo Grove, Ill.; Kathy McClain, director of product development at Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Co., Flint, Mich.; Amy Shalley, Michigan legislative liaison, State Farm Insurance, Portage, Mich.; and Mike Widick, government relations consultant at Westfield Group of Ohio.

In addition, David Field, regional counsel of Allstate, Southfield, Mich., was elected to a one-year term on the IIM Executive Committee.

Companies and their representatives continuing their terms on the Executive Committee are: Bill Cilluffo, vice president, government relations, AAA Michigan, Dearborn, Mich.; Steve Hess, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, Lansing, Mich.; Jim Robinson, executive vice president, Farm Bureau, Lansing, Mich.; Tom Messner, vice president and chief operating officer, secretary and treasurer, Michigan Construction Industry Mutual, Lansing, Mich.; Rich Rasmussen, president and chief operating officer, Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Co., Lansing, Mich.; Mike Reynolds, claims director, ProAssurance Group, East Lansing, Mich.; Bruce DeFouw, market manager; Secura Insurance, Byron Center, Mich.; and Mike Costello, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary at Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Southfield, Mich.; and Jim Laing, president at Wolverine Mutual Insurance Co., Dowagiac, Mich.

Headquartered in Lansing, IIM represents the property/casualty insurance industry in Michigan.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. named Daniel S. Glaser, an American International Group executive who began his career as a Marsh broker, as chairman and chief executive officer of its insurance broker, Marsh Inc.

Glaser currently serves as managing director of AIG Europe (U.K.) Limited and the regional president of AIG’s American International Underwriters (AIU), UK/Ireland division. He joined Marsh on Dec. 10, 2007.

Glaser succeeds Brian M. Storms, who was forced out of the position in September. CEO of Marsh. Glaser currently lives in London and will relocate to MMC’s corporate headquarters in New York.

Topics Agencies Ohio Michigan Property Casualty Casualty