Peoples and Places

4 promotions at InterstateInsurance Management: Larry E. DeFrances has beenpromoted to executive vice president, commercial auto underwritingmanager for U.S. operations. DeFrances also is a member of thefirm's management committee. Constance L. Kennedyhas been promoted to vice president, binding underwriting manager.John A. Maurizio has been namedtreasurer-controller, and Dale W. Shirey has beenpromoted to senior vice president, CAT property specialist.Insterstate is a regional managing general underwriter,headquarterd in Johnstown, Pa.

Condon & Skelly names director: One yearafter aquiring Condon & Skelly, NSM Insurance Group namedJim Kruse its program director. Kruse previuslyserved K&K Insurance and founded MTK Specialty Insurance,which focused on specialty auto risks.

Utica promotes 3, names an officer: Threeofficers have been promoted to vice president at the UticaNational Insurance Group: Steven D. Alcott,manger of product development; Steven E. Barry,director of research and budget; and William M.Walker, business segment manager for personal lines. Inaddition, James C, Kristoff, director of riskmanagement technical and field services was named an officer of thecompany as assistant vice president.

SIA Group hires program manager: MorganMarkham joined SIA Group as program manager. She will oversee allmarketing projets and strategies, employee recruiting andretention, and assist senior-level management.

Dante Disparte returns to Clements: Clements International appointed DanteDisparte director of partner solutions. Disparte willmanage and develop the company's global broker and partner network,and identify new sales, channels, customer segments and markets.Disparte previously served the company as a broker.

Norman-Spencer appoints execs: Norman-SpencerAgency promoted Brian Normanto president, Porus Austin to chief oepratingofficer, Pat Malone to director of the boat/yachtspecialty division, and Greg Woryk to chiefmarketing officer.

NetVu names COO: The Network of VertaforeUsers named Lisa Harrington, CPCU,AAI, vice president and chief operations officer.Harrington is a frequent contributor to AA&B's Forthe Manager column.

Assured Agencies hires SVP of businessdevelopment: Paul Vredenburg has joinedAssured Agencies as senior vice president ofbusiness development. Vredenburg comes to the company from Brown& Brown.

Sparta names chief underwriting officer: Brian D.First has succeeded the retiring Brian P.Mulroy as chief underwriting officer at Sparta InsuranceCo. First joined Sparta from Discover Re.

Read on for mergers and acquisitions and newpolicies.

Mergers &Acquisitions

Doodson Broking Group acquires CSIEntertainment: Doodson Broking Group, an entertianmentspecialist in the United Kingdom, acquired Dallas-based CSIEntertainment Insurance to form Doodson Entertainment. The partnershipwill create the world's largest insurance broker for music andspecial events, extending to more than 10,000 concerts, 600 musicfestivals and 300 touring artists. The company also has providedspecialized risk management for Lance Armstrong and the Radio ShackCycling Team. James Chippendale, founder and chiefexecutive of CSI Entertainment, will serve as president ofDoodson Entertainment.

Trion Group acquired by RCM&D, Marsh &McLennan p&c: Insurance broker RCM&Dacquired the commercial property and casualty insurance division ofTrion Group Inc. Marsh &McLennan Agency acquired the other divisions at Trion.Trion was the largest privately held employee-benefits specialistin the country with $74 million in annual revenue.

Crawford & Co. acquires ClaimHub assets:Crawford & Co., the world's largestindependent provider of claims management solutions, hasacquired the assets of ClaimHub Inc. ClaimHub's staff hasbeen offered positions at Crawford.

New Policies

Paragon Underwriters launches Cannabis InsuranceAdvisors: Paragon Underwriters, an independent Michiganinsurance agency, launched a specialty insurance dvisionCannabis Insurance Advisors. Based in WestBloomfield, Mich., Cannabis Insurance Advisors assistsdispensaries, compassion clubs, collectives, cooperatives, growers,certification centers, bakeries and all other related medicalmarijuana businesses.

Schinnerer launches railroad protectiveprogram: Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. launched itsRailroad Protective program. The coverage offersmonoline coverage designed specifically for railroad relatedexposures, including project specific coverage for individualcontracts and coverage for private grade crossings on privateproperty. It admitted, available in all states except New York andis offered through Chartis.

News

Lockton opens Charlotte, N.C. office: Lockton Charlotte willprovide commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefitsservices. Longtime Charlotte insurance advisors Blake Graeber, AdamWithers and Steve Montgomery have joined Lockton Charlotte assenior vice president, vice president adn senior vicepresident-unit manager, respectively.