People

Texas-based Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB) announced that Jan Holcombe joined the company as vice president of personal client services.

Holcombe brings more than 20 years of experience as an insurance counseling and management specialist. She will be in charge of providing personalized and comprehensive insurance tailored to the needs of high net worth clients in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area through RHSB’s local offices.

Holcombe played key roles in developing regions for three companies and is recognized statewide for her excellent communication and negotiation skills. She is licensed in life/health and property/casualty insurance and is a certified insurance counselor. She’s currently a member of the Independent Insurance Agency of Dallas and the Insurance Women’s Association of Dallas.

RHSB is an Assurex Global partner, with offices in Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Antonio.

Austin, Texas-based Frost Insurance Services added Jonathan Hines as a vice president in Frost’s employee benefits insurance division. Hines serves as an insurance consultant and broker. In this role, he is responsible for the development of new client relationships as well as meeting current clients’ needs by delivering best practices risk management consulting services.

FARA Insurance Services, a Mandeville, La.-based provider of claims administration and risk management solutions, added Kevin Kennedy to its sales team. Kennedy has been promoted to regional sales manager and his responsibilities include developing new business and maintaining current relationships. He started his insurance career as a claims adjuster with FARA in 2004 and is based out of FARA’s corporate office in Mandeville.

Juan Andrade stepped down as Commercial Markets president at The Hartford to join Ace as president of the insurers’ Global Personal Lines and Small Commercial Insurance division. Andrade will assume the new position with Ace in December.

Andrade joined The Hartford in 2006, after holding senior management positions with The Progressive Corp. He started his insurance career at AIG, where he worked with the company’s international property and casualty businesses both in the United States and overseas.

The Hartford named Andrew J. Pinkes as Andrade’s temporary replacement. Pinkes currently serves as executive vice president for Consumer and Commercial Markets Claims at The Hartford, and is also president of Heritage Holdings Inc., the company’s domestic and international property/casualty legacy operations. Pinkes joined The Hartford in 2003. He began his insurance career with Travelers.

Jon Janes joined USI Southwest in Dallas as a director in the Management and Professional Services (MPS) division. Janes will primarily focus on public, pre-IPO and complex private companies.

Janes’ experience includes IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and other multifaceted issues for companies across all industries, including financial services, health care and higher education. He comes to USI Southwest from the Financial Services Group of Aon Inc., where he was a vice president-team leader in Aon’s Chicago office. Prior to Aon, he was a director with Carpenter Moore. His experience also includes work as an attorney practicing tax, real estate and corporate law.

USI Southwest also announced that David Mattlage joined the firm in its Austin, Texas, office as vice president and Austin Employee Benefits practice leader. Mark Gray also joined the firm as Commercial Lines vice president.

Mattlage joined USI following an eight-year tenure with Principal Financial Group, as vice president of sales.

Gray joined USI following his three-year tenure with Frost as senior vice president of the Insurance Division. Gray has 20 years of experience in the insurance brokerage business.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) announced that Randy Lanoix of Donaldsonville, La., was installed as the newest member of the association’s executive committee. Lanoix is president of Lanoix Insurance Agency in Lutcher and Brusly, La.

Lanoix has served as president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana (IIABL) in 2001 and as the Louisiana representative on the Big “I” national board of directors from January 2005 to September 2010. He recently received the Lou Daniel award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the IIABL. Lanoix is also a past recipient of the “Mr. Chairman” award for his work as Louisiana’s legislative chairman and his work with the Louisiana state legislature.

On the national level, Lanoix has served on the professional liability committee, the Trusted Choice board of directors, numerous other task forces, and two terms on the government affairs committee, where he was chairman of state government affairs.

Angela Petersen joined the management team at CRC Insurance Services as a senior vice president. Based in Dallas, Texas, Petersen is a licensed attorney with experience in the wholesale brokerage industry. She will serve in a newly created role supporting CRC producers throughout the sales process by developing proprietary coverage tools, assisting with claims issues, and reviewing policy forms and coverage questions. Prior to joining CRC, Petersen served as Financial Services legal counsel at Colemont Brokerage Group.

The Hartford appointed James Gardiner to lead its new Renewable Energy Unit. Gardiner will be responsible for the unit’s overall execution and management with a focus on business development. John Davison joined the company as renewable energy underwriting director, reporting to Gardiner. Davison brings more than 30 years of underwriting experience in the energy and related industries. He will be based in The Hartford’s Houston office.

The Renewable Energy Unit will be based in The Hartford’s Southwest Regional office, under the leadership of Regional Vice President Tim Nelligan. Gardiner will work closely with Nelligan in establishing The Hartford’s renewable energy field distribution strategy, with an initial focus in Texas, California and New Jersey this fall and a broader rollout planned for 2011.

Edwin R. Buster III joined the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation as an associate medical advisor. Since 1970, Dr. Buster has been in private practice at Capital Neurosurgical Association in Austin. Currently he is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a Medical Consultant to the Texas Medical Board. He is also a member of American Medical Association, Travis County Medical Society, Texas Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Austin Neurological Society.

Topics Texas Agencies Louisiana Energy Property Casualty