Robert M. "Bear" Bryant, president and chief executive officer of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), retired yesterday. He was succeeded by Joseph H. Wehrle Jr., who was the association's chief operating officer.

"Mr. Bryant was responsible for remaking the NICB into the premier fraud-fighting organization it is today," said Susan Q. Hood, NICB board chair and claims vice president, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

"His leadership, foresight and passion for excellence have touched every facet of NICB's operations delivering efficiency, effectiveness and a return on member investment. He will be missed," said the statement from Ms. Hood.

Mr. Bryant, formerly FBI assistant director, was credited with the creation of NICB's Medical Fraud Task Force and the Strategic and Tactical Information Department. He supported cutting-edge technology, such as license plate readers, bait cars and enhanced analytical tools for preventing theft and detecting fraud trends.

He was an early and consistent voice nudging the NICB membership toward providing their salvage claims data to the public as a consumer protection against unsafe vehicles.

Commenting on his appointment to head the NICB, Mr. Wehrle said: "I am honored by the confidence the NICB board has placed in me and I am excited to have the opportunity to lead this great organization. Thanks to Bob Bryant, the NICB is operationally sound and ready to move to the next level in our continued effort to accomplish our mission of combating insurance fraud and vehicle theft.

"I stand committed to continuing the cooperation that NICB extends to all of our partners including our member insurance companies, the entire property and casualty industry, law enforcement, state fraud bureaus, trade associations and all organizations focused on reducing the impact of fraud on the American public," said Mr. Wehrle.

Mr. Wehrle is a retired Air Force Lt. General and former president of USAA Property and Casualty Group. "He is uniquely qualified to direct the efforts of the NICB as it extends its excellent record of performance into new and challenging areas of insurance fraud activity," said Ms. Hood.

Special Reports /

NICB CEO Bryant Retires, Succeeded By COO Wehrle

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