Organizational Changes for Ohio’s American Financial Group

American Financial Group, an insurance holding company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio announced the promotions of Vito C. Peraino and Michelle “Shelly” A. Gillis. The company also announced that James E. Evans has been named AFG executive counsel in addition to his role as senior vice president and member of the AFG board of directors.

Peraino has been named general counsel and senior vice president of AFG and will assume responsibility for AFG’s legal function. Gillis has been named to the newly created position of chief administrative officer and vice president of AFG.

Peraino previously served as senior vice president and assistant general counsel of Great American Insurance Group and was responsible for overall claims strategy and claims oversight for Great American’s property and casualty businesses. He joined Great American in 1999 as a vice president, overseeing management of all asbestos, environmental and other mass tort liabilities for the property and casualty group.

Prior to joining Great American, Peraino was in private law practice for 18 years, and was a partner in a large California law firm where he had spent 15 years.

In her new role, Gillis will assume responsibilities for AFG’s real estate facilities, communications and business support services functions. In addition to these new responsibilities, she will continue to lead AFG’s human resources and enterprise services groups.

Gillis began her career at Great American Insurance Group, a subsidiary of AFG, in 2004 as director of organizational planning. She has held positions of increasing responsibility over the past few years, most recently as corporate vice president of human resources, a position she has held since December 2008.

Prior to joining Great American, she was a vice president and senior HR business partner of Fifth Third Bank.

American Financial Group has assets in excess of $35 billion.

Source: American Financial Group

Topics Ohio Human Resources