Aon plc., leading global provider of riskmanagement and human resource consulting and outsourcing, announcedthe addition of Qin Lu as CEO for Aon BenfieldGreater China and CEO for Aon Risk Solutions China, effective late2015. Subject to regulatory approval in China, Lu will join theregional management teams of Aon Benfield and Aon Risk Solutions,respectively, and will be based in China. Lu's extensive experienceacross Asia includes 20 years of industry experience and a strongtrack record. Prior to joining Aon, Lu served as president of SwissRe, China and a member of Swiss Re Asia management team.

Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC announced theaddition of Mark Talerico as a managing directorin its Tampa, Florida office. In his new capacity, Talerico willserve clients in Tampa, in addition to prospects and respectiveaccount teams, GC Analytics and Guy Carpenter Strategic Advisory.Talerico previously served at Guy Carpenter as senior vicepresident of Portfolio Management. Prior to joining Guy Carpenter,Talerico served as chief risk and underwriting officer atNarrangansett Bay Insurance Company. Talerico joins Guy Carpenterwith five years' experience as vice president of Enterprise RiskManagement for simulation provider, Risk Management Solutions(RMS), and senior vice president and chief financial officer forCalifornia earthquake insurance provider, Pacific Select PropertyInsurance Company.

MarketScout announced the appointment ofJessica Johnston as a commercial underwriter andJoan Talent as a senior underwriting assistant, as part of theexpansion of its Restaurants, Bars and Taverns (RBT) underwritingfacility. Jessica Johnston is based in MarketScout's Dallas officeand will be responsible for underwriting a diverse range of risksfor restaurants, bars, and taverns exposures. Most recently,Johnston served as a commercial underwriter for B&H RiskServices. Prior to that, she was a commercial underwriter forMcClelland and Hine, Inc. Talent also joins the Dallas office withover 25 years of experience in insurance underwriting and ratingactivities. Prior to her appointment at MarketScout, Talent servedas an underwriting support technician at AmTrust North America.Before joining AmTrust, she was the senior underwriting assistantat American International Group.

Hiscox has named NicoleGoodwin Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for itsfast-growing business unit, Hiscox USA. Based in New York City,Goodwin will replace Gary Head who returns to Hiscox's Londonoffice as head of Alternative Distribution for the Hiscox Group.Goodwin joined Hiscox in 2004 as divisional counsel to thecompany's Technology Media & Telecoms Division, and mostrecently served as the head of U.S. Claims.

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation(IICF) announced the appointment of three new members toits Western Division Board: Sanford Michelman,chairman at Michelman & Robinson, LLP; CynthiaMorrison, senior vice president and chief financialofficer at Topa Insurance Group; and ConnieTaylor, zone officer at The Navigators Group. Michelman,Morrison and Taylor will assist the Western Division Board inmanaging the division's grant focus areas, grant guidelines, eventsand volunteer activities. The Board, which is comprised of 36senior leaders, oversees the company's operation in Los Angeles andthroughout its headquarters' location, California, as well as inIICF's Colorado and Arizona chapters. Senior leaders work or servethe insurance industry in the Western United States.

York Risk Services Group (York) announced theappointment of Skip Creasey as chief operatingofficer (COO) of York's Commercial Business and executive vicepresident of York Risk Services Group, Inc. Bringing to York morethan 30 years of leadership experience in the industry, Creaseywill be responsible for the operational and strategic functions ofthe business units focused on the specialty markets served by York.His most recent position was president and COO of Stratacare.

The American Insurance Association (AIA) hasannounced that Wesley R. McClelland will assumethe position of vice president for federal affairs, effectiveSeptember 8. Currently, McClelland serves as senior policy advisorin the Office of Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. McClelland'sprevious experiences include his roles as senior policy advisor toRep. John Campbell and legislative assistant to Rep. BillThomas.

Validus Re has appointed James (Jim)Franson in the newly-created position as president ofValidus Americas, Validus Re's U.S.-based managing general agent,which underwrites on behalf of its Swiss reinsurance company. With29 years of industry experience, Franson will be responsible forexpanding Validus Re's domestic U.S. reinsurance strategy,including the development of a casualty reinsurance businessoperation and will be based in the New York City metro area. Priorto joining Validus Re, Franson served as chief underwriting officer(CUO) of Arch Reinsurance Company.