D. Kay Smith, president and chief executive officer of Tampa,Fla.-based Arbitration Forums Inc., will retire in April 2008 aftermore than ten years as president, the company announced.

The AF board said it is forming a selection committee to searchfor a replacement to fill the upcoming vacancy and interestedparties should contact AF Human Resources Director Ken Butler [email protected].

During Ms. Smith's tenure, the AF said the firm has grown to bethe largest arbitration service organization in the country,resolving nearly 470,000 inter-insurance company disputes in 2006,with a claim value of more than $2.2 billion.

AF Chairman Dan Herdmann said, “Under Kay Smith's innovativeleadership AF delivered many value-added benefits to the insuranceindustry.” Mr. Herdmann is regional vice president, HarleysvilleGroup.

He said Ms. Smith, “through highly focused, cost-effectivemanagement and cutting-edge technology, developed new andinnovative ways to improve arbitration and subrogation processesand reduce insurer expenses.”

Ms. Smith was credited with directing AF's expansion intoelectronic services, designing, developing and marketing thecompany's first Web-based product, E-Speed Filing, and its latestthe E-Subro Hub.

E-Subro Hub expanded AF's offerings beyond traditionalarbitration services by providing customers with a single Web-basedplatform from which they can issue and respond to subrogationdemands as well as file and respond to arbitration cases, thecompany explained.

Prior to joining AF in 1997, Ms. Smith held executive positionsat CNA/Continental Insurance Company, including executive vicepresident-continental risk management services and vicepresident-contract services.

AF describes itself as the nation's largest nonprofit providerof inter-insurance dispute resolution services with a membership ofmore than 4,000 insurers and self-insureds nationwide.