People

American International Group Inc. (AIG) named Russell Johnston president and CEO of AIG Environmental, a unit of AIG Commercial Insurance.

Johnston joined AIG in 1990 serving in senior management positions within AIG’s Risk Management Group, including president of National Accounts, president of Domestic Risk Management and most recently as president of AIG Risk Management.

In addition, Kimberly Hanna was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of AIG Environmental. Hanna joined AIG’s Canadian operations in 1996 and in 2000, she became a product line manager for AIG Environmental. She has held positions of increasing responsibility within the Environmental unit, including her most recent position as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer.

Zurich Financial Services promoted Mario Vitale to CEO of its Global Corporate business division. He replaces Geoff Riddell, who will assume additional responsibilities overseeing Zurich’s operations in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. Vitale will also assume the newly created position of chairman of Global Corporate.

Vitale has served as deputy CEO of Global Corporate since July 1, 2008, in addition to serving as CEO of the Global Corporate division in North America division since 2006. Vitale joined Zurich from Willis Group Holdings where he was CEO of Willis North America and a member of both Willis’ Group Executive Committee and the Office of the Chairman.

Farmers Group Inc., a Los Angeles-based subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services Group, promoted Paul Hopkins to chairman of the board. In addition, Hopkins will assume responsibilities overseeing Zurich’s Latin America operations. Previously, Hopkins was CEO. Robert Woudstra, formerly president and chief operating officer, succeeds Hopkins as Farmers Group Inc. CEO.

Hopkins joined Farmers in 1978 as an agent and subsequently became a Farmers employee in which he held positions of increasing responsibility in the sales and marketing areas. He credited the company’s success during his tenure as CEO to its agents, district managers and employees. He is a member of the Group Management Board of Zurich Financial Services and president of U.S. Personal Business.

Woudstra has given 35 years of service to Farmers and to Foremost Insurance Co. He joined Foremost Corp. of America in 1973 as controller. In February 1999, he was promoted to chief operating officer of Foremost, the position he held when Foremost was acquired by Farmers in March 2000. In April 2005, Woudstra was promoted to executive vice president of Property and Casualty Operations. In May 2007, he was appointed president and chief operating officer.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services Inc. added Bruce Anderson as a senior vice president and account executive in its Redwood City, Calif.-based Real Estate Practice. He will specialize in the real estate and property management industries and manage services delivered to major customers in the Bay Area and across northern California.

A 30-year veteran of the insurance industry, Anderson joins Wells Fargo Insurance Services from Marsh Risk and Insurance Service’s San Francisco office, where he was most recently senior vice president and client executive.

Safeco Insurance and Colorado Casualty, both Liberty Mutual Agency Markets companies, announced management appointments to lead their respective personal and commercial lines operations in their Mountain territory.

Claudette A. Kenmir is vice president, Safeco Insurance, and Mountain regional general manager. Kenmir has been with Safeco for 20 years, most recently as vice president, West regional executive. She will be based in Golden, Colo., and will be responsible for profit and growth throughout Safeco’s six-state Mountain territory.

Joining Safeco’s Mountain personal lines field operations as agency managers and reporting to Kenmir are: Branka Dramicanin, representing Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico; and Susan Swanson, representing Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Ronald Casner and Philip R. Lucca continue in their capacities as regional vice presidents for Colorado Casualty’s commercial lines operations, with Casner representing the Arizona region, and Lucca representing the Denver region.

Colorado Casualty appointed Kim Schafer assistant vice president of marketing, and Richard Miles assistant vice president of underwriting.

Honolulu-based Atlas Insurance Agency Inc. appointed Sharon Hodson vice president in its commercial lines division. Hodson will be responsible for managing the company’s independent agent workforce in that division. Hodson has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Her professional designations include Associate in Risk Management and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter. She has been recognized as the 2008 CPCU of the Year by the CPCU Society of Hawaii and is also a member of the Underwriters Association of Hawaii and the Kuhio Lions Club.9

San Francisco-based Equity Risk Partners Inc. (ERP) named Kim Hennessy senior managing director of the company’s property/casualty practice. She will be responsible for the overall management of the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York property/casualty profit centers. She will oversee market relations, client service and due diligence services.

Hennessy brings more than 18 years of experience to her new role. Prior to joining ERP, she was the mutlilines manager at Marsh, where she held marketing and management positions that focused on serving mid-sized accounts for both its Chicago and Minneapolis offices. Prior to that, Hennessy worked for Willis, Johnson & Higgins and Chubb Group of Insurance Cos.

Reno, Nev.-based Employers appointed Regina Harris vice president of operations for its strategic markets region. Harris, who has more than 22 years of insurance experience, began her career as a policy typist for the Texas-based Highlands Insurance Co. She previously served at Employers as vice president, Project Management Office, and prior to that she was responsible for all underwriting, claims, loss prevention and marketing operations for the company’s Northern Nevada Division. Harris also has held previous positions with American Governmental Risk and Insurance Programs, and with the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund.

Swett & Crawford appointed Bob Markese vice president of casualty in its Los Angeles office. Before joining Swett & Crawford, Markese worked with Worldwide Facilities Inc. in Los Angeles as vice president of casualty. He was responsible for producing and maintaining casualty business and managing a team of casualty brokers. Markese began his career in 1987 as an account executive with ICP in Pasadena, Calif., working on the retail side of the business. In 1998 Markese moved to the wholesale arena, handling property, casualty and professional liability for NeitClem Wholesale Insurance Brokerage Inc.

San Diego-based Cavignac & Associates hired Lisa Hitt as surety department accounting manager. Hitt has 24 years of accounting experience and knowledge of the building industry. In her new position, she will be responsible for account management and processing, sales and marketing. Previously, Hitt served for 11 years as president of Contractor Software Corp. in San Diego.

Tonja Prince, an industry veteran with 17 years of experience, is the newest broker in the American E&S Insurance Brokers’ Seattle branch. Most recently with AmWINS, Prince specializes in casualty, property, and professional liability coverages.

Beecher Carlson, a commercial insurance brokerage and risk management consultancy, expanded its National Healthcare practice with the appointment of Daniel H. Schmidt as managing director. Schmidt brings 20 years of experience to Beecher Carlson with expertise in healthcare risk management, alternative risk financing and captive management. He will focus on the development and production of healthcare clients based from the company’s San Francisco office.

Prior to joining Beecher Carlson, Schmidt served as Healthcare Practice leader for Aon based in San Francisco. He was responsible for the strategic planning, development and staffing and financial performance for the healthcare practice’s western region. He specialized in all aspects of property and casualty, provider excess of loss, reinsurance and insurance accounts, focusing on health plans, hospitals, medical groups and life science companies.

Prior to joining Aon, Schmidt served as a broker at Marsh.

ACE Ltd. appointed Sean Ringsted chief risk officer for the ACE Group of Cos. This role will be in addition to his current responsibilities as chief actuary.

Ringsted will oversee the development and implementation of ACE’s risk management strategy and processes, including continuing to serve as chair of ACE’s Enterprise Risk Management board and ensuring a consistent risk management framework.

Ringsted, who will continue to be based in Bermuda, has served as ACE’s chief actuary since 2004, responsible for all major actuarial functions, including reserving, pricing and capital performance measurement. From 2002 to 2004, he served as chief risk officer for ACE’s global reinsurance business. He joined ACE Tempest Re as senior vice president and chief actuary in 1998, when ACE acquired CAT Ltd. He previously worked as a consultant for Tillinghast-Towers Perrin in the United States.

Willis Group Holdings appointed Philip Reynolds as an advisor to its Property Investors Division. He will report to John Dilley, managing director of the Willis Property Investors Division, and will provide advice and guidance to enhance client service and relationship management, with emphasis on senior property market figures.

Reynolds has more than 37 years experience in the insurance industry, and during that time worked exclusively for RSA in varied roles throughout the United Kingdom. He is well-known in the London property and insurance markets and has been involved in industry bodies as vice president of the Insurance Institute of London and a member of the European committee of the Association of British Insurers. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers.

Chicago-based Aon Corp. appointed Laurel Meissner, a former financial executive from Motorola, senior vice president and global controller. She replaces Dan Hunger, who is retiring from the firm. Meissner will be responsible for accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and financial controls, compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley, Securities and Exchange and Financial Accounting Standards Board regulation and standards and financial operations across all lines of business globally.

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