People Moves: Zurich Adds Sustainability Posts; Pie Attracts 4 Execs; Big ‘I’ Names Invest Chief

Zurich Creates Role to Support Energy and Construction Clients With Sustainability

Zurich North America has created three roles to support its construction and energy customers in their sustainability objectives.

“Climate change is one of the most urgent risks confronting our customers, and many are working toward carbon-neutral goals,” said Paul Lavelle, head of U.S. National Accounts for Zurich North America. “These new roles underscore our commitment to further develop products and services that help our customers both mitigate and adapt to climate-related risks.”

Alicia Pavelko has returned to Zurich as head of Construction Innovation and Sustainability, reporting to Kelly Kinzer, head of Construction for U.S. National Accounts. Pavelko will manage the growth of Zurich’s construction offerings including weather parametric, mass timber and alternative energy products. She also will be responsible for developing new product solutions for construction.

Previously, Pavelko held leadership positions in the construction practice at Willis Towers Watson and Marsh, as well as underwriting positions at Hanover Insurance and Zurich North America.

Molly Dorsett has rejoined Zurich as head of U.S. Energy Casualty Renewables. Reporting to Jeanne Jankowski, head of U.S. Energy Casualty for U.S. National Accounts, Dorsett will be responsible for the strategic direction and identification of product needs for Zurich’s renewable energy casualty practice, supporting growth in wind, solar and other types of renewable energy.

Dorsett brings 17 years of experience in underwriting and management roles at Chubb, Zurich and CNA.

Zurich also has created a position of lead underwriter of U.S. Renewable Energy Property. This person will develop the strategic direction and identify product needs for Zurich’s U.S. renewable energy property practice, with a focus on wind and solar, and liaise with Zurich colleagues globally on renewables. Nicholas Haller, previously senior vice president at Haller-Zaremba Insurance Agency, has started in the role, reporting to Robert Edel, underwriting manager for U.S. Energy Property. Haller previously held key underwriting roles at GCube Insurance Services.

Pie Insurance Expands Leadership Team

Pie Insurance,, an insurtech company specializing in workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses, has appointed new senior leadership team members including David Samuels as the first chief commercial officer, Dimitrius King as the first chief claims officer, Kelly North as vice president of business development, and Jen Straus as the first vice president of people operations.

Samuels joins Pie after nearly a decade at SAP/Concur, where he most recently held the position of chief customer officer. As Pie’s first chief commercial officer, Samuels is responsible for setting Pie’s operational strategy and overseeing all premiums generated from our insurance agents and brokers.

As Pie’s first chief claims officer, King is responsible for leading and implementing the company’s claims strategy. He joins Pie from Liberty Mutual, where he was a vice president of the workers’ compensation division.

North joins Pie as vice president of business development, overseeing the team responsible for growing and maturing the company’s insurance agency channel. Prior to Pie, she spent two years at Beam Dental as the company’s vice president of business development.

Straus is responsible for Pie’s compensation, benefits, people operations and analytics, as well as learning and development. She joins the company with a wealth of people operations experience at startups, including Kabbage and Alteryx.

Big ‘I’ Names Dillard New Invest Executive Director

The Big “I” insurance agents association has named Whitnee Dillard as the new executive director of Invest and diversity. Dillard succeeds Deborah Pickford, executive director of Invest, who is retiring in May after six years. Invest is a classroom-to-career education program.

Dillard has 10 years of experience in insurance, nonprofit management and youth educational programming. She began her insurance career in 2012 as a licensed property/casualty agent, joining the Big “I” in 2014. She currently serves as the Big “I” director of diversity and inclusion and also serves as the staff lead to the Big “I” Diversity Council representative of Big “I” agents and 24 insurance companies.

In her new role, Dillard will direct Invest’s programs to improve the insurance literacy of students and attract diverse talent to the insurance industry, and she will also oversee diversity and young agents. .

Topics Agencies