People & Places

Philadelphia Insurance Cos.'s CEO JamieMaguire will step aside at the end of 2012, but willremain chairman of the board. Sean S. Sweeney, thecurrent president and COO, will assume the title of presidentand CEO on January 1, 2013. Both men have dedicated most of theircareers to Philadelphia's success.

Kathleen Savio was named president ofprograms and direct markets for Zurich North AmericanCommercial. She will be responsible for working with the programsand direct markets teams to build and execute operating plans anddeliver growth while remaining true to business strategies andvisions.

SterlingAscend Insurance Resources hired Susan Simpsonas vice president. Simpson has more than 30 years of industryexperience and is the first Utah executive to be hired in anongoing growth operation to expand into the Utah and IntermountainWest markets.

Sophia Duffy joined The American College as assitant professor ofemployee benefits. Duffy will teach courses on financialstatements, compensation and human resource management.

Markel Corp. promoted GregThompson to president of Markel Specialty. He has morethan 30 years of industry experience and formed Thompson InsuranceEnterprises (THOMCO) with his father in 1979. THOMCO was acquiredby Markel in January 2012. Bob Heaphey assumed therole of managing executive for THOMCO as Thompson moves on to hisnew responsibilities.

Todd Lauer was appointed vice president ofmedical technology at OneBeacon Technology Insurance. He will be accountablefor underwriting, business development and strategic innovation forthe medical technology business.

Mergers & Acquisitions

IDPHoldings acquired the hospitality business of National SpecialtyUnderwriters, Inc. (NSU). IDP also purchased NSU'sCertus Claims Administration, a specialized hospitality claimshandling division. The acquisition is in line with IDP's mission tobuild a premier specialty program manager dedicated to the needs ofniche markets within the country.

Marsh & McLennan announced the acquisitionof TheProtector Group, an agency headquarterd in Worcester,Mass. Protector will further expand the region's employee benefitcapabilities and add new property-casualty insurance resources.

New Programs

All Risks, in partnership with Pets BestInsurance and Independence American Insurance Co., announcedthat Pet Insurance is now available in 32 states. The onlineplatform allows agents to partner with clients while earningcompensation for each submitted application. The program has annualand lifetime coverages for cats and dogs. Coverages include routinecare such as medical injections, lab tests and emergencyvisits.

Fidelis Group Holdings and its subsidiary, ContinentalUnderwriters, announced a new Excess Marine Liability facilityfor the maritime industry. Houston Casualty Co. will insure theprogram, which is designed to provide coverage for up to$25,000,000 including bubershoot liability excess of acceptableunderlying insurers.

News

The Target Markets Program Administrator Assoc.(TMPAA) announced that 9 of its members were awarded the firstCertified Program Leader designation during their 12th annualsummit: Greg Thompson, THOMCO; KimAyala, Landscape Contractors Insurance Services;Joseph Peloso; Peneolpe Thomas;Michael Bachman; Deborah Francis,Liberty International Underwriters and JeffryGauthier, Carolyn Miller andJulie Roberts from Great American InsuranceCo.

Applied Systems released TAM 12, the newestversion of its industry management software. Enhancements includecapabilites for writing policies in the commercial middle market,reverse alerts and commercial lines policy writing for Canadiancustomers. Other additions include Compu-Quote and compatibilitywith the Canadian eDoc XML.

Guy Carpenter & Co. announced that threemembers of its actuarial team were awarded the 2011 Variance Prizefor leadership in risk valuation, underwriting cycle modeling andrisk benchmarks for the property-casualty market. The award ispresented to the best paper published in each volume of Variance. John Major,Jessica Leong and Charles Panwill be recognized.

JLT Specialty Limited and Echelon Claims Consultants announcedCandy Holland's appointment to deputy president ofthe Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA). The Institute'svision is to be the leading voice in the property-casualty claimsarena, specifically in setting professional and ethical standardsand assuring compliance.