People

Westminster American Insurance Co. of Maryland has named Craig Heuman as marketing director. Heuman has over 30 years of experience as a production underwriter for Harford Mutual Insurance Co. He is responsible for developing business in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

Southborough, Massachusetts-based insurance consulting firm Pinnacle Financial Group has named Kevin R. Coffey as director of operations. Coffey will oversee all of Pinnacle’s operations, including its finance and technology functions. Coffey brings over 20 years of professional experience to the role, including significant experience supporting and managing infrastructure for organizations during times of growth or change. He most recently served as vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer for the Great Providence YMCA. His prior experience also includes senior roles at Kewill Solutions, Genzyme Transgenics.

Privately held insurance broker The Lockton Cos. has named Jania Stout as vice president in Washington, D.C. The Baltimore native brings to Lockton a successful track record of business development and relationship management in retirement services with mid-market companies in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania region. Prior to joining Lockton, Stout was a senior account executive for Fidelity Investments. She was a leader in their sales division and focused on middle market clients. She began her career at ADP Retirement Services where she spent over 10 years.

In another move, Lockton has expanded its Northeast operations by adding turnaround expert Michael Toner to its newly created Boston office. Toner is a leading expert on the insurance issues faced by companies in turnaround and restructuring. He works closely with turnaround consultants, law firms, lenders, accounting professionals and companies facing financial challenges. Toner is also an experienced property and casualty insurance advisor to professional services firms, financial institutions, retailers, and companies in metals distribution, food and beverage, entertainment, and transportation. Toner previously was with Aon for 16 years.

Juan Andrade and Jonathan Bennett have been named as interim co-leads of the Property and Casualty Operations of The Hartford.

Their appointment to those interim positions follows the departure of Neil Wolin, president and chief operating officer of the The Hartford’s Property and Casualty Operations, who has accepted a position in the White House as Deputy Counsel to the President for Economic Policy and Deputy Assistant to the President.

Andrade is currently executive vice president of sales and distribution for Property and Casualty. He joined The Hartford in 2006 when he assumed leadership of the P/C claims organization. Prior to joining The Hartford, Andrade held several leadership positions with The Progressive Corp., and also held management positions with American International Group.

Bennett is currently executive vice president of personal lines and small business insurance. Bennett joined The Hartford in 1999 as staff assistant to Ayer. He has since served in several leadership roles at the company, including vice president of corporate development, head of the eBusiness Ventures Team, and senior vice president of product management for the personal lines division. He was promoted to his current role in 2005.

Aon Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Gregory C. Case has been named “2008 Insurance Leader of the Year” by St. John’s University School of Risk Management. The award, which has been presented annually since 1995, recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals whose leadership in the worldwide insurance and financial services industry sets them apart from their peers. Last year’s recipient was James J. Schiro, chief executive officer of Zurich Financial Services

Richmond, Virginia-based Markel Corp. has promoted Britt Glisson to chief administrative officer. In this role, he will be responsible for assuring efficient, cost effective operations for Markel Corp. in North America. Glisson joined Markel in1990, first as chief financial officer and later as president and chief operating officer of Essex Insurance Co. In 1996, he became president and chief operating officer of Markel Insurance Co., the positions he held just prior to his promotion.

Markel also named Mike Crowley as president of Markel Corp.’s Specialty Division. In his new position, Crowley will be responsible for specialty insurance business, which includes Markel Insurance Co. and Markel American Insurance Co. Prior to joining Markel, Crowley was president of Willis HRH North America, and has previously held senior positions with Johnson & Higgins and Palmer Cay.

Kathleen Haskell and Christopher Smyth have joined Venture Insurance Programs’ Preferred Club Program’s team of underwriters. The two will write new business and renewals and sell Preferred Club products and services.

Haskell most recently served as a senior underwriter for AIG Specialty Excess. She and has also held previous positions with Patriot Underwriting Managers, Commonwealth Risk Services and Marsh & McLennan Inc.

Smyth most recently served as underwriter at C&R Insurance Services where he generated new business with a focus on lawyers’ professional liability.