People – Midwest

Richard J. Gergasko has been named president and chief executive officer of Texas Mutual Insurance Co. He will succeed Ron Wright, who has announced his retirement.

Wright has served as president and CEO since 2009; he previously served as chief operating officer of Texas Mutual, beginning in 1997.

Gergasko has been president and COO of Seattle-based SeaBright Insurance Co. since 2009. He previously worked as executive vice president of operations for the company from 2003 to 2009. He had a long career in various positions in the workers’ compensation insurance industry prior to that.

Gergasko is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc, has added Liam Murphy and Adam Smith in its Little Rock, Ark. office.

Murphy will serve as senior vice president and member of the executive committee for Aon’s national trucking practice. In his new role, Murphy’s previous experience includes nine years as an officer and transportation practice leader at Regions Insurance in Arkansas, and 18 years as a reinsurance broker and sales executive in London.

As director of business development, Smith will be responsible for expanding relationships with and delivering insurance and risk management services to medium-to-large road transportation firms in Arkansas and surrounding states. Most recently, he served as assistant vice president and state-wide transportation practice leader for Frost Insurance in Texas and has 12 years of experience in commercial insurance.

Addison, Texas-based Mullis Newby Hurst LP (MNH), which specializes in construction insurance and surety bonds, has hired Raleigh Roussell as vice president of construction marketing to create new opportunities for the agency, as well as support and enhance current relationships.

Roussell served 40 years as president and CEO of TEXO, which represents more than 1,900 commercial construction companies in North and East Texas. His most distinguished honors include being named the S.I.R. Award recipient in 1993, the construction industry’s highest award.

He was named an Honorary Life Member of the American Institute of Architects in 1994 and was inducted into the “Contractor Hall of Fame” at Texas A&M University in 2006. In 2011 an endowed scholarship was established in his name by the faculty, students and industry partners at the University of Oklahoma.

Mullis Newby Hurst affiliate, MNH-Tullis LLC, is based in Little Rock, Ark.

Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corp. (LWCC) promoted Debra Taylor to assistant vice president of human resources and Jill Breard to assistant vice president of claims operations.

Taylor has worked at LWCC since 1992, when she was hired as training coordinator. She was subsequently promoted to education and training coordinator, then education and training manager. She was promoted to director of human resources in 2010.

Breard joined LWCC in 1993 as a claims representative, then was promoted to senior claims representative. She later held the positions of rehabilitation services coordinator and risk management services operations manager. In 2010, she was promoted to director of risk management services operations.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak announced the creation of an advisory board to increase the effectiveness of the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Anti-Fraud Unit. The board includes four legislators, a county undersheriff, a police chief and two professors of criminal justice.

The board includes: Sen. Bill Brown, R – Broken Arrow; Rep. Dan Kirby, R – Tulsa; Rep. Mike Christian, R – Oklahoma City; Rep. John Bennett, R – Sallisaw; Thom Parr, Criminal Justice Professor at East Central University and CLEET instructor; Dr. Robert Scott, Dean of College of Education and Technology at Fort Hays State University; Tulsa County Undersheriff Tim Albin and Miami Chief of Police George Haralson.

The advisory board, along with OID Anti-Fraud Director Michael Copeland and Deputy Commissioner Owen Laughlin, will meet twice a year to discuss Oklahoma Insurance Department investigations that resulted in criminal charges, offer suggestions and collaborate on statewide efforts. The Anti-Fraud Advisory Board will hold its first meeting later this year.

AmWINS Group Inc. combined its various non-standard auto operating entities to create AmWINS Specialty Auto (ASA). The new operation within AmWINS underwriting division will be led by Jim S. Whited, chairman; David Scruggs, president; Debra Williams, executive vice president, claims; Dennis DiCapua, executive vice president, product management and chief risk officer; and Chuck McMillan, vice president, sales and marketing. Scruggs will also oversee the Operations Division.

The combined entities include Newport General Agency (acquired in April 2010), American Southwest Insurance Managers, Excel General Agency, Statewide Claim Service and Oakwood Software Insurance Solutions (all acquired in February 2011).

The combined operation will retain separate brand names within the Texas marketplace and leverage the new ASA brand as it expands outside Texas.

Ironshore International announced that Steven W. Komis has been appointed as president of Marine Re, Ironshore’s specialist marine reinsurance intermediary.

He reports to Mark Wheeler, chief executive officer of Ironshore International.

Komis is a veteran underwriter within the specialty marine and aviation reinsurance sector. He most recently served as vice president of marine and aviation for Century Insurance, a subsidiary of Meadowbrook Insurance Groups, and was responsible for the overall management and development of those lines of business within its special risks group.

Marine Re provides coverages for commercial and pleasure craft hull and machinery, marina and terminal operators’ legal liability, cargo, and cargo transit and storage.

Topics Texas Oklahoma