Markham R. McKnight, of Baton Rouge, La., president ofBancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc., was named the new chairman ofThe Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

Mr. McKnight, head of BancorpSouth Insurance Services since2005, was selected for the post during a general membership meetingheld with the 95th annual Insurance Leadership Forum held inHenderson, Nev.

Mr. McKnight took office at the conclusion of the conference,succeeding George A. “Shad” Steadman III, president and chiefoperating officer of Rutherfoord of Roanoke, Va.

Mr. McKnight was executive vice president of Wright & PercyInsurance in Louisiana from 1982-1994, and president and chiefexecutive officer of Wright & Percy Insurance from 1994 to2005.

BancorpSouth Bank, a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Inc., afinancial holding company headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., acquiredWright & Percy in 2003.

As chairman of CIAB, Mr. McKnight leads a team of officersincluding Vice Chairman H. Wade Reece, president of BB&TInsurance Services of Raleigh, N.C.; Treasurer James R. Pender,honorary chairman of the board of Oswald Companies in Cleveland,Ohio; and Secretary David E. McGurn Jr., president, specialmarketing and international division, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.in Itasca, Ill.