People

Virginia-based specialty insurer Markel Corp. announced that its President and Chief Operating Officer Paul W. Springman resigned. Springman had been on a leave of absence since late October.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) named Lauren Cialone senior director of federal government affairs and John Prible vice president of federal government affairs.

Cialone previously served as a legislative assistant to Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, and as his top financial services staffer. She also worked for Senator Evan Bayh, D-Ind., a member of the Senate Banking Committee.

Prible joined the Big “I” team as assistant vice president for federal government affairs in 2006. Prior to that, he was the director of government affairs for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services named Todd Wartchow senior finance officer. Based in Chicago, Wartchow is responsible for directing financial performance and the development of strategic business initiatives. He is also responsible for managing finance team members in preparation of profitability analysis of products, customers and/or business segments, and potential new lines of business and acquisitions. Finally, Wartchow is responsible for developing and maintaining governance and control structure over Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Wartchow was senior vice president and head of the financial management team for Wells Fargo’s Los Angeles Metro Community Bank.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services also named Jennifer Schaeffer a senior broker with the Professional Risk Group. Schaeffer will be based in San Francisco. She will focus on directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for new and existing customers, in addition to helping grow the West Coast practice through business development. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Schaeffer worked for Carpenter Moore in Europe where she served as the director of the company’s Nordic Region.

Van Nuys, Calif.-based Momentous Insurance Brokerage formed a specialty practice exclusive to sports to provide risk management and insurance solutions for athletes, coaches and teams. According to President Diane Brinson, she aims to grow the practice into the largest sports practice in the United States within two years.

Sales Executive Steve Rivera was named to the Sports Division. He specializes in the affluent market, providing insurance solutions for athletes and other high net worth clientele. He has knowledge in providing solutions for high profile professional athletes in the NFL, NBA and MLB.

Also heavily involved in the new initiative are Sales Executive Zach Staggs, who has an extensive background in sales and customer service; David Toth, chief operations officer; John Jacen, vice president; Craig Warren, assistant vice president; Rochelle Brotter, assistant vice president;

Marjorie Segale was promoted to president of Insurance Skills Center (ISC), a Pleasanton, Calif.-based education company owned by IBA West Service Corp. Segale succeeds the ISC leadership team of Patty Gibson Carlson and Laurie Infantino, co-founders of ISC. As president of Insurance Skills Center, Segale’s responsibilities include management of operations, development of courses, supervision of instructors and design and implementation of ISC programs.

Segale has an extensive insurance background, both practical and academic, and has earned several professional designations including, certified insurance specialist in construction; agriculture and farm insurance specialist; registered professional liability underwriter; certified insurance counselor; construction risk and insurance specialist; accredited customer service representative; and certified insurance service representative. She is a nationally recognized instructor, author of more than 300 insurance courses, and provides expert witness services.

Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance Group of Cos. appointed Larry Pratt to vice president -sales. Pratt started with Farmers in June 1990 as a sales trainee in Vancouver, Wash. In April 2005, he was named executive director-Texas. When responsibility for the Texas market was split earlier this year, Pratt was named South Texas State executive director.

Farmers also appointed Senior Vice President Roy Smith to senior vice president field operations, Southwest Zone. The Southwest Zone includes the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Smith joined Farmers Insurance in July 1985 as a personal lines underwriter in the Mission, Kan., regional office. He has been vice president-State Operations since June 2006.

Farmers also named John Henle as South Texas state executive director. Henle replaces Pratt. Henle began his career with Farmers in 1999 as an auto property adjuster. After serving in positions in California and Washington, he was promoted to senior marketing consultant, State Operations, for the Central Zone in 2006. He will be based in Austin, Texas.

White Sutton & Co. Insurance Services of Santa Monica, Calif., added Tyler Albers as an assistant account executive. A recent graduate from the University of Washington, Albers is passionate about a career in the insurance industry. Prior to joining White Sutton & Co., he interned with Zenith Insurance Co. for two summers.

Topics Texas Agribusiness