People

Laura McCormick has joined Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Burns & Wilcox as a professional lines broker specializing in miscellaneous professional, environmental consultants, E&O and non-profit D&O.

McCormick has been a deputized Lloyds Underwriter since 1990 and has 20 years’ experience accepting risks on behalf of Lloyds. She previously worked at Marsh and Hays Companies where she was responsible for underwriting professional liability programs.

Marsh & McLennan Agency, a subsidiary of insurance broker Marsh, has appointed three executives to its senior leadership team: Lisa R. Hoffmann, chief information officer, Benjamin A. Newman, senior vice president, Mergers & Acquisitions and Sharon M. Werner, director of Human Resources.

Hoffmann joins Marsh & McLennan Agency with 23 years of experience in information technology that includes senior positions with Time-Warner’s Synapse Group, Inc., Centex Corp., and GE Commercial Finance. Most recently, she was president and owner of Optimal Sourcing.

Before joining Marsh & McLennan Agency, Newman was vice president, Corporate Development and senior vice president, Operations, for USI Affinity with USI Holdings Corp. His 10 years of experience also includes positions with Capital Z Partners and Merrill Lynch & Co.

During her 24-year career, Werner has held senior positions in human resources with a number of firms, including Trinchero Family Estates, Synapse Group Inc., and Diageo.

Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Glenn Wilson appointed two public members to the governing committee of the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP).

Thomas J. Evenson is an associate with Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson, P.A. in Minneapolis. He is a civil litigator practicing in several areas, including insurance law, personal injury litigation and workers compensation. Previously, Evenson served as a judicial law clerk in the Minnesota Ninth Judicial District.

Frederick Ramos is a senior project manager for Kroll Ontrack in Eden Prairie, managing legal projects requiring complex processing requirements and tight timelines. Previously, Ramos worked at what is now The Travelers Cos. Inc. in St. Paul, where he served as specialty claims attorney and litigation manager. Ramos has experience defending in personal injury lawsuits.

Chuck Gaskill, currently vice president and corporate counsel, has been appointed by the Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. to become senior vice president and general counsel. Gaskill began his career at Columbus, Ohio-based Motorists in 1979 as an attorney in the Claims Department.

He also has served as a subrogation manager in the company’s Claims Legal/Subrogation Department, a legal manager and assistant corporate counsel.

The Motorists Insurance Group is composed of seven property/casualty companies, one life insurance company and two brokerages.

Property and casualty insurance provider Zurich named Scott Rasor as head of Zurich North America Commercial’s Construction group. Rasor previously served as senior vice president for Construction, specializing in residential and specialty risks. He will be based in Zurich North America’s Schaumburg, Ill., headquarters.

Rasor joined Zurich in 1995 as a liability major case supervisor in claims. After a variety of roles spanning 16 years, he then moved to underwriting where he held several roles of increasing responsibility.

Prior to his most recent appointment, Rasor served as head of market for Architects and Engineers as well as residential products such as the Homebuilders Protective and Volume Builders Policies.

Specialty insurer Philadelphia Insurance Cos. has promoted Christopher J. Maguire and Sean S. Sweeney to the position of co-presidents.

Maguire joined Philadelphia Insurance Companies in 1987; he will serve as co-president and chief operating officer. Sweeney, who is now co-president and chief marketing officer, has been with Philadelphia Insurance Companies for 31 years.

Topics Minnesota Professional Liability