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Florida Governor Charlie Crist has named Marjorie Renee Hill of Tallahassee as Judge of Compensation Claims.

Hill, 47, has served as the director of the First District Court of Appeal’s Workers’ Compensation Unit since July 2008. Previously she has served as a judicial staff attorney for the First District Court of Appeal beginning in February 2003. Hill was a senior attorney for the Department of Children and Families from 2002 to 2003. She also served as a judicial staff attorney for the First District Court of Appeal from 1998 to 2002. Hill earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1995 and graduated from the Florida State University College of Law in 1998.

Hill will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John P. Thurman.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has been selected as the 2008 Regulator of the Year by the LexisNexis Insurance Law Center’s Advisory Board. According to the ILC, nearly 50 nominations were received for its four award categories: Regulator of the Year, Policyholder Attorney of the Year, Insurer Attorney of the Year and Insurance Jurist of the Year. McCarty has served as Florida’s insurance commissioner since 2003. He has degrees in law and political science, both from the University of Florida.

Elizabeth Demaret, managing director of Arthur J. Gallagher, has been appointed chairwoman of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries (WFII), an international association representing intermediaries from around the world. Demaret is one of six WFII World Council members from North America and a member of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. Demaret will serve a one-year term as chairwoman, and another year as outgoing chair. Demaret follows David Harari, director of IFEBO in France, as chair of the WFII.

New York-based specialty insurance firm Valiant Insurance Group has named Kevin J. Cawley as senior vice president and chief actuary. Cawley, who will be based in New York, most recently served as chief actuary for Liberty International Underwriters – North America.

Swett & Crawford appointed Robert Peterson as program manager for a new product, the Swett & Crawford Program for Contractors Auto, to be marketed with its carrier partner, Travelers Companies Inc.

Before joining Swett & Crawford, Peterson worked with Crum & Forster as special accounts underwriting manager, where he managed a $17 million book of large account workers’ compensation business.

Topics Florida