People & Places

SPARTA Insurance Co. has named Ralph E. Jones III president & COO. He has more than 30 years of industry experience and will help the SPARTA team build future franchise value. Jones recently held the positions of CEO of Arch Worldwide Insurance and COO of Everest Reinsurance Holdings.

Duncan Morrison joins OneBeacon Technology Insurance (OBTI) as assistant vice president, international. He will facilitate foreign admitted placements through OBTI's European relationship network.

New Empire Group announced the formation of a Wholesale division, to be headed by James F. O'Neill, the current executive vice president. The formation comes as a result of client suggestions to expand product offerings beyond New Empire's current real estate programs.

Erin Deaton joined Burns & Wilcox as a senior underwriter for the Marine Center of Excellence. Deaton has over a decade of customer service, underwriting, marketing and risk management experience.

Willis North America appointed Michael Malouf to managing partner and CEO of Willis of Illinois. He will be responsible for business development across the state, focusing on strategic planning, heightening client service and retention and recruiting staff.

Shaun Hooper moved from CGSC to Swett & Crawford to assume the role of COO. He will oversee division and practice groups and be responsible for Swett's commercial business. Two veteran Swett executives, Mike Brennan and Michael Ruhe, have been named corporate sales directors and will join the HSMC board. A new position, sales and client manager, was established and will be filled by Michael Baeurle. He will develop a more structured and coordinated approach to managing the company's client base.

Founders Insurance promoted John M. Anderson to COO. He has more than 20 years of industry experience and previously served with Allstate in several capacities.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Cook, Hall & Hyde and Maran Corporate Risk Associates announced a strategic merger agreement. The resulting company, Cook Maran & Associates, will increase market opportunities and enhance product portfolios. It will service clients from Eastern Long Island through Southeastern Pennsylvania and provide a range of servies including life and individual products, employee benefits, surety and credit risk solutions.

Cross Insurance acquired Sadler Insurance Agency in Nashua, N.H. The acquisition continues Cross' expansion plans, which includes 90 other acquisions in the past 50 years.

New Programs

Aspen US Insurance expanded its Marine capabilities to include brown water hull, protection & indemnity and marine liability coverages. These new offerings were made possible by Aspen's increased business relationship with Axiom Insurance Management. The program coverage is available for clients such as ship repairers, terminals, wharfingers and charterers.

News

The Council for Disability Awareness (CDA) launched the Defend Your Income campaign and website to teach consumers, advisors, employers and insurers about long-term disability, a big threat to income. The web experience is paterned around a martial arts dojo and invites users to actively learn by taking quizzes to earn a “black belt” in income defense. Visitors of the site can also calculate their own earnable income quotient to see what they stand to lose if they do not plan ahead.

Maggie Tirschman, account manager for M3 Insurance in Madison, Wis., was awarded the 2012 National Outstanding CSR of the Year Award. The award is the most prestigious honor available to industry customer service representatives. The Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) and the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) select the winner from a field of 37 state winners.

THOMCO, a Markel company, and Markel Insurance Co. will underwrite medical transportation property-casualty insurance beginning in October 2012. THOMCO provides specialized support to medical transportation operators nationwide.

Jeffrey F. Harrold received The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation's 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is chairman and CEO fo Auto-Owners Insurance Co., which he joined in 1977.

Special Reports /

Hires and Promotions at SPARTA, Willis North America, Swett & Crawford, OneBeacon and More - Around the Industry

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