People – Southeast

Global wholesale insurance and reinsurance broker Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford has appointed Shaun Hooper as president and chief executive officer of its wholesale, reinsurance broking and underwriting operations in North America.

Hooper replaces J. Neal Abernathy, CEO since 2006, who the company said has left the business to pursue other opportunities.

The changes came following the closing of a deal last month in which the New York private-equity firm Lightyear Capital took a controlling interest in the firm. The company said that deal would help it make acquisitions and position it for an eventual initial public offering (IPO).

As part of the shake-up, Mike Brennan, previously a corporate sales director and division leader, has been promoted to a new role of CEO of wholesale and will take responsibility for all aspects of the wholesale business in the U.S., according to the company.

Michael Ruhe, also previously a corporate sales director and division leader, has been appointed president of sales, with responsibility for developing and growing the revenues of CGSC’s U.S. businesses. Both will report to Hooper.

Hooper joined CGSC in July 2009 as head of group operations and was appointed chief executive officer of Cooper Gay, CGSC’s Lloyd’s and London market broker, in early 2011. In April 2012, he assumed a wider role within CGSC and led the commercial development of its global operations.

In his new role, Hooper will have overall responsibility for CGSC’s prominent U.S. brands, Swett & Crawford and Cooper Gay Re, as well as its underwriting businesses, including J H Blades & Co., Creechurch International Underwriters, Energy Technical Underwriters, Loxley and Managed Care.

The ousted Abernathy was named chief executive officer in May 2006. At that time the firm moved its corporate offices from Woodland Hills, Calif., to Atlanta. Prior to that, he held the position of president and chief operations officer at Swett & Crawford.

The Florida Surplus Lines Association named Larry Bodkin as its new executive director. Bodkin currently is president and CEO of the Tallahassee-based Bodkin Management and Consulting LLC. He has 20 years of experience in managing, marketing and communications, having served as the CEO for several for-profits and non-profits.

Bodkin succeeds Roger Gobler, former FSLA executive director who is awaiting trial on charges he allegedly embezzled association funds. The association said it fired Gobler last February after it became aware of the alleged embezzlement.

Atlanta-based employee benefits agency Digital Insurance has hired industry executive Pete Gruenberg as national practice leader for its Digital Benefit Advisors (DBA) retail brokerage unit. The company said it created this role to help accelerate the growth of DBA’s network of retail brokerage offices. Gruenberg’s career includes positions at Willis North America, Hilb, Rogal and Hobbs; Bank of America Corporate Insurance Agency; and Meeker Sharkey. Most recently, he served as a mergers and acquisitions specialist affiliated with an M&A firm.

Mike Becker has been promoted to vice president of federal affairs for the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA).

Becker will head PIA’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, direct the annual PIA National Federal Legislative Summit and be the lead liaison to the association’s Government Affairs Committee. He will also serve as treasurer of the

Professional Insurance Agents Political Action Committee (PIAPAC) and as a board member of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Becker began his career at PIA in March of 2007, rising to assistant vice president of federal affairs prior to his new assignment. Prior to joining PIA, he worked for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association representing pharmaceutical companies.