People

LoriAnn Lowery resigned from her position as president of Lloyd’s North America, after a little more than a year on the job. Sue Langley, Lloyd’s director of market operations and North America, said Lowery, who recently married, had resigned for “personal reasons.”

Lowery took over as Lloyd’s North American president in April, 2008. She replaced long-time president Wendy Baker in the position. Before joining Lloyd’s, Lowery was a senior executive with Aon.

IMA Financial Group named Marcia Benshoof president of IMA of Colorado. Prior to joining IMA, Benshoof served as chief business officer for Pinnacol Assurance for 11 years. At Pinnacol, she was responsible for all business operations and directed the performance of 11 profit centers across four comprehensive market segments. She oversaw all aspects of underwriting, safety and claims service for the company’s 58,000 customers. At Pinnacol, she founded and led Pinnacol in Action, the company’s corporate community volunteer program.

Benshoof has more than 30 years experience in the insurance industry including executive positions within the workers’ compensation and managed care marketplaces. She has sales and product development experience and academic credentials from a faculty position with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced that Sean Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of its Middle Market insurance businesses, will assume responsibility for the company’s Specialty Financial insurance businesses – Hartford Financial Products and Bond. The Specialty Financial business is a strong contributor to In addition to his new duties, Fitzpatrick will continue to lead the Middle Market insurance segment. He joined The Hartford in 2007, after having held positions of increasing responsibility with the Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., including chief underwriting officer of Chubb Specialty Insurance. Fitzpatrick replaces David McElroy.

United Risk Solutions Inc. added two people to its staff. KC Ferguson joined as senior account manager in the Workers’ Compensation department, and Reida Robinson will be the manager of the firm’s Bond department. Patricia Boyd, who has led the Bond Department for nine years, will retire in June.

Ferguson will work closely with Department Director Cindi Jayubo in providing service to the firm’s workers’ compensation clients, which account for approximately 20 percent of total clients. Ferguson has had close to 30 years experience in the insurance industry, beginning as an underwriter with Great American Insurance in Chicago and Los Angeles, followed by Aetna, Industrial Indemnity, Transamerica and Fireman’s Fund. Most recently, she was an account manager in the San Francisco offices of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Robinson brings 17 years experience in surety bonds to her new position. Prior to joining United Risk, she was senior sales executive in the bond department of Orgill Singer Insurance in Nevada. Previous positions include bond account manager at Brown and Brown Insurance, and senior underwriter with The Insco/Dico Group. She holds the professional designation of Associate in Fidelity Surety Bonds, and is past president of the Surety Association of America-Las Vegas Chapter. She also is a member of National Association of Surety Bond Producers, Associated General Contractors, Construction Financial Management Association, and American Business Women’s Association. And she sits on the Board of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of California and Nevada, and Western Insurance Agents Association.

Simon Noonan, senior vice president and president of Bristol West Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Farmers Group Inc., was promoted to chief operating officer of Farmers Business Insurance. Noonan joined Bristol West Holdings in 2002 as senior vice president and was promoted to executive vice president in 2005. He later became COO, as well as president and CEO. In addition, he served as a senior vice president of Farmers Group Inc. Prior to joining Bristol West, Noonan provided actuarial and merger and acquisition services, with a focus mainly on non-life insurance companies for consulting firm Metis Financial.

Liberty International Underwriters, a division of Liberty Mutual Group, named Tim Kania senior vice president of construction for its North and South America operations. An insurance executive for more than 20 years, Kania is also a licensed professional engineer. His experience and technical approach help him develop programs and underwriting protocols that address clients’ needs. In his new position, Kania will focus on the energy and heavy industries segments as well as construction all-risk projects.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers announced that Jon McGraw has joined the company as a vice president in its Petaluma (North Bay), Calif. office. McGraw specializes in employee benefits and will be charged with new business development in Sonoma County and the greater Bay Area, pursuing employee benefits and large group medical opportunities, focusing on education and nonprofits. McGraw has 25 years of employee benefits experience, having worked in underwriting, account management and sales in both regional and national organizations. He has managed multi-employer trusts and collaboratives with specific expertise in higher education, nonprofits, and large multi-location, multi-plan program.

Topics Workers' Compensation Excess Surplus Underwriting Lloyd's