People

Calabasas, Calif.-based Lionheart Insurance Services hired Pat Piccinonno and Joe Weckerle Jr. to head its newly opened Irvine, Calif., office.

Piccinonno, appointed president, has 35 years of insurance management and production experience, most recently with R.E. Chaix, Black/White and Yates & Associates.

Weckerle Jr., appointed vice president, has more than 17 years of production experience and was previously with R.E. Chaix and ARIS Insurance Services.

Richard G. Spiro was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Chubb Corp. He succeeds Michael O’Reilly, whose retirement was announced previously. O’Reilly, who served 39 years at Chubb, will remain at company until the end of 2008 to assist in the transition.

Spiro joins Chubb from Citigroup Global Markets Inc., where he was a managing director in its financial institutions investment banking group. He held a variety of positions in Citigroup’s financial institutions group, including head of North America, global head of insurance investment banking and co-head of the insurance, asset management, exchanges and processors group.

Zurich appointed Ron Davis executive vice president and head of customer management for General Insurance.

Davis, who previously was global relationship manager for Zurich Global Corporate, is based in New York and will report to Rocco Maggiotto, executive vice president, customer and distribution management, Zurich Global General Insurance.

Davis joined Zurich in 2000 as a member of the company’s Global Relationship Management leadership team. Prior to joining Zurich, he was operation manager for Factory Mutual Insurance Co.

Stockton, Calif.-based Western Marine Insurance Services appointed Scott Olmstead vice president of programs underwriting of the Aquapac Plus recreation marine package programs. He will be responsible for managing the underwriting department, taking the lead on program enhancements.

Olmstead has more than 13 years of experience. He started his career as premium auditor and commercial lines underwriter for Bituminous Insurance Co. in Kansas City, Mo. He also worked for SCOR Reinsurance Co. and Berkley Underwriting Partners LLC.

The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. named Gary Y. Kusumi president of personal lines business.

Kusumi will oversee the Worcester, Mass.-based company’s personal lines operations and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.

Kusumi comes to The Hanover from GMAC Insurance, where he was president and CEO of the company’s personal lines business. Previously, he was president and CEO of the Windsor Group, and president of Leader National Group-personal lines companies of Great American Insurance Group in Cincinnati.

Hawaii-based Atlas Insurance Agency Inc. appointed Lance Kawano senior vice president of its personal lines division. Kawano previously was vice president and will continue to be responsible for the strategic planning and profitability of Atlas’ personal lines accounts. He has more than 17 years of experience in insurance and finance.

Phoenix, Ariz.-based Sterling Grant & Associates promoted Mario Oliva to broker, focusing on commercial insurance portfolios for a variety of industries, including the bar, restaurant and night club sector. Oliva began his career in the insurance industry as a customer service representative at Sterling Grant in 2002.

David J. Molitano was named technology errors and omissions manager for XL Insurance, XL Capital Ltd’s global insurance operations.

Molitano, based in Boston, comes from Beasley USA, where he managed a book of miscellaneous, technology and media professional liability business. He previously held underwriting and management positions with Lexington Insurance Co., Chubb and The Hartford.

Chicago-based Hub International Ltd. made several management changes.

Dennis Pauls, currently CEO of Hub Ontario, will become CEO of Hub Midwest West (Chicago). Bill Zanoni, currently CEO of Midwest West, will become chair and chief marketing officer for Midwest West. Neil Morrison, currently CEO of HKMB Hub International will become CEO for both Hub Ontario and HKMB Hub.

Austin, Texas-based insurance education provider, The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, selected Kathleen G. Speer director of national business development.

Speer will oversee the sales and business development relationship operations for the nonprofit. Prior to joining The National Alliance, she was a home office underwriting consultant for FCCI Insurance Services in Sarasota, Fla. She has held management positions with Aetna Casualty & Surety Insurance Co.

Christer Pehrson joined Aon Re Global as executive director, focusing on European-based global clients. He was previously managing director of Guy Carpenter and deputy head of its international department.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc. hired Hale “Chip” Holden III as senior vice president and sales executive, based in San Francisco. A long time member of the Bay Area risk management and insurance communities, Holden will continue to work primarily with risk management customers across a range of industries and is recognized as a specialist in technology, public entities and real estate.

Holden joins Wells Fargo Insurance Services from Willis North America. Prior to Willis, he held executive and leadership positions at ACE USA, Discover Re Managers and Aon.

San Diego-based Barney & Barney hired Richard Hallett to work in the Construction Practice Group.

Formerly an executive underwriter with Arch Insurance Group, Hallett specializes in the placement of surety bonds for the construction industry, as well as commercial clientele. He has 15 years of experience in the insurance and construction sector. He is president of the Surety Association of San Diego and a member of the Association of General Contractors and Construction Financial Management Association.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Pacific Specialty Insurance Co. promoted Robert Large to vice president of product development and William Guthrie to the vice president of information technology.

After eight years with the company, Large will assume responsibility for all areas of product development, regulatory affairs, licensing and expansion activities for The McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies. Prior to this appointment, he was the assistant vice president of the company’s Property Products Division.

Guthrie joins the company’s MIS Department in the newly created position of vice president of information technology. He will oversee technology, including maintenance and development of core processing systems, corporate networks and internet-related initiatives. Most recently, he was the vice president of product development.

San Jose, Calif.-based Thoits Insurance Service Inc. named Pelayo Carranza vice president. Pelayo brings 14 years of experience to this role. He began his insurance career as a personal lines producer with a local brokerage. He moved into commercial lines in 1999.

Aon Risk Services named Stuart Rover a senior account executive in the firm’s Los Angeles office. He is responsible for servicing client needs, expanding client relationships and developing risk management business opportunities throughout Southern California. Rover has 20 years of experience in client service, delivery of risk management and insurance solutions and business development. He joins Aon from Marsh Risk & Insurance Services.

Topics Tech Underwriting Construction Aon Risk Management Chubb