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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder selected Kevin Clinton to oversee the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. He replaces former Commissioner Ken Ross who resigned his post effective April 15. Ross was appointed by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Currently a special advisor at OFIR, Clinton previously served as president and CEO of East Lansing-based American Physicians Capital Inc. In 2010 he led a successful merger between AP Capital and the Doctors Group. Early in his career, Clinton worked for the state’s Insurance Bureau, which is now part of the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. He is a fellow in the Casualty Actuarial Society.

Western National Insurance Group (WNIG) of Edina, Minn., announced that Peter H. Corning joined the group as senior vice president of finance. Corning, a licensed certified public accountant, formerly was vice president and chief financial officer of the Insurance & Asset Management divisions at CUNA Mutual Group. He has more than 20 years of experience with the insurance industry.

WNIG also partially realigned its management team.

Jeff Couchman, formerly vice president – Corporate at Western National Mutual Insurance Co. (WNM) and senior vice president and general manager at Western National Assurance Co.(WNA), assumed the role of vice president – marketing and business development at WNM.

Cindy Doble, vice president – personal lines since 2004, is now chief underwriting officer – personal lines.

Brian Jermeland, formerly the group’s vice president – commercial lines operations, was named chief underwriting officer – commercial lines. He also will continue as senior vice president and general manager of Pioneer Specialty Insurance Co.

Eric Ellefson was promoted to assistant vice president – commercial lines underwriting.

Mary Manley, who has served WNIG for seven years as senior vice president – corporate affairs and administration, is now executive vice president of WNA, in addition to her role as executive vice president of Umialik Insurance Co.

Steve Richards, formerly vice president – commercial lines underwriting for WNA, was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of WNA.

Capitol Insurance Cos., a Madison, Wis.-based national provider of specialty property/casualty insurance and commercial surety products, appointed Alan S. Ogilvie to chief operating officer.

Ogilvie joined Capitol in 2004 and was previously Capitol’s vice president, general counsel and secretary. In his new role, he will be responsible for Capitol’s property and casualty underwriting, claim, marketing and operations units, as well as continuing to be responsible for the legal and governmental affairs of Capitol. He has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience.

Retail insurance brokerage IMA Inc. announced that Michael Whipps joined the firm as president of its Kansas City, Kan., office. IMA of Kansas City is part of the IMA Financial Group Inc., which has 450 employees and offices in seven markets across the nation.

Prior to joining IMA, Whipps was senior vice president and construction practice group leader for Willis of Kansas. He began his insurance career in 1981 and has served in management roles with regional and national brokers.

The Bruce Gendelman Insurance Co. (BGI), an insurance advisory firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., promoted Angela Engebretson to chief operating officer and Isabel Collazo to vice president of commercial lines.

Engebretson previously served as vice president of operations. She has been with BGI for 10 years.

Collazo, formerly Commercial Lines team leader, has been with the company for four years.

Topics Kansas