The Tampa, Fla.-based Institute for Business & Home Safety, the property-casualty insurance industry's loss reduction trade association, said Rod Matthews has been named board chairman.

Mr. Matthews, who is underwriting vice president, property and casualty, with State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, succeeds Phil Love, chief executive officer of South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company.

Mr. Love will remain on the IBHS board as immediate past chairman. Mr. Matthews was previously the IBHS board's vice chairman and chairman of its executive committee. Those positions will now be held by Kevin Kelso, president of personal lines at Farmers Insurance Group.

The two-year appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2008.

“Our thanks to Phil for his dedication, and for providing strong leadership during an especially significant period for IBHS, as the result of the organization implementing a new strategic, long-range plan and going through a management change,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO.

“With Rod and Kevin, we're fortunate to have two talented insurance executives–both deeply committed to improving the science of loss prevention–stepping into critical leadership roles on our board as we seek to take IBHS to the next level of success,” she said.

The IBHS sees its mission as an effort to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. IBHS counts among its members more than 200 property-casualty insurers and reinsurers.

Information about the organization is online at www.DisasterSafety.org.

Special Reports /

Matthews To Chair Loss Reduction Group

Related Stories

Recommended For You