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Former Ace Ltd. CEO and Chairman Brian Duperreault has stepped down from the Bermuda-based insurer to assume to role of president and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

Duperreault replaces Michael Cherkasky, who had been president and CEO since October, 2004. MMC announced in December its intention to find a successor to Cherkasky.

From 1994 to 2004, Duperreault served as CEO of ACE Limited, the Bermuda-based insurer MMC helped found in 1985. He then served as chairman of the board from 2004 to 2007.

Under his leadership, Ace grew from a boutique catastrophe insurance specialist into a global multi-line commercial enterprise. He presided over significant growth and acquisition while at Ace, including the 1999 acquisition of Cigna’s property and casualty business.

Prior to ACE, Duperreault was with American International Group for more than 20 years, eventually rising to become executive vice president of AIG Foreign General Insurance and chairman and chief executive of AIG’s American International Underwriters (AIU), which comprises all of AIG’s non-U.S. commercial business.

Atlanta-based Proudfoot Consulting has named former Ohio Casualty Corp. CEO Dan R. Carmichael as senior advisor to the firm.

Carmichael joined Ohio Casualty Corp. as president and CEO in 2000, where he assembled the executive management team, assisted in the recruitment of a new, independent slate of directors and led the group to develop and execute a strategic plan to restore the corporation’s financial strength and performance.

In 2007, Liberty Mutual acquired Ohio Casualty for $2.7 billion. Carmichael remained through the transition as a senior advisor.

Michael P. Welch recently joined Vermont Mutual Insurance Group in Montpelier as a commercial lines underwriter. Welch spent the past 11 years with Underwriters Agency of New England as assistant vice president of underwriting.

The Hartford’s Chief Financial Officer, David M. Johnson, announced plans to step down later this year. Johnson who has served as the company’s top financial officer since 2001, will remain in the position until a successor is found.

Before coming to The Hartford, Johnson served as senior executive vice president and CFO of Cendant Corp., and prior to that served in several roles at Merrill Lynch.

Johnson has received numerous plaudits over his career. In 2000, CFO Magazine named him one of the leading CFOs in the U.S. under the age of 40.

XL Capital Ltd. announced that Clive R. Tobin will retire effective April 1 from his role as chief executive of the company’s insurance operations. He will continue to assist XL with strategic opportunities in emerging markets.

David B. Duclos, currently COO of XL’s Insurance Operations, has been named to succeed Tobin as chief executive.

Tobin’s new official title is vice chairman of XL Insurance Ltd. He will initially work with Duclos during the transition, concentrating on the continued development of the joint venture in Brazil, which he spearheaded in 2006.

Duclos has 28 years of experience in the insurance industry. He joined XL in October 2003 after three years at Kemper Insurance Company in various senior level positions. Prior to Kemper he spent 21 years at Cigna Corp., which included a variety of regional and national management roles in the field and home office.

Kirk Chartier has been named senior leader of distribution and strategy at Safeco, where he will oversee the company’s marketing and distribution efforts and focus on helping independent agents grow their customer bases.

Chartier previously served as senior managing partner at Zyman Group, a marketing consultancy, where he implemented programs for clients such as Dell, EDS, Dow Chemical, Nationwide Insurance and Blockbuster. He has also worked in various positions with General Electric, and consulting groups Goodman & Co. and Answerthink.

Chartier also spent 11 years as a staff officer and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Beecher Carlson has appointed Charles Pierpont as managing director of its national energy practice.

Pierpont, who has 20 years experience in the power generation industry, will develop, implement and manage complex risk management programs for private equity clients and power generating facilities of all types.

Prior to joining Beecher Carlson, Pierpont served as area executive president for Arthur J. Gallagher and Co. where oversaw clients’ insurance portfolios. Pierpont has also worked for Marsh & McLennan, Johnson & Higgins and Alexander & Alexander.

Business Management Group Inc., a subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has appointed three new consultants to the company’s consulting team.

Jackie A. Johnson, a 24-year industry veteran, will serve as senior vice president and will focus on sales training for insurance agents.

Greg Robson, a 30-year industry veteran, will join the group as senior financial consultant and will focus on analysis and fair market valuation of privately owned agencies and brokers.

Kelsey Cabrera, will serve as senior financial consultant and focus on mergers, acquisitions and sales.

Edward W. Scannell III has joined Blue Bell, Pa.-based PMA Insurance Group as branch vice president for Connecticut and New York.

Scannell will oversee the agency distribution network in those states, where PMA said it is planning to expand its operations by opening an office in Hartford.

Scannell was previously the chief operating officer of Bouvier Beckwith & Lennox in West Hartford and owner of specialty insurance agency, Kelly Associates. He has also served as regional vice president for Peerless Insurance in Connecticut, as well as vice president and branch manager for One Beacon.