People & Places

Swett & Crawford announced the addition of Gregg Higgins as a director inthe Professional Services Practice Group as part of the group'sexpansion. The company also appointed John Fosdick as a salesleader for the Los Angeles, Calif. office.

Alexandra Cary joined the InsuranceInstitute for Business & Home Safety as manager of theirFORTIFIED Coastal Programs. In this role, Cary will provide supportto communities along the Gulf Coast and support the organization'spartnership with Habitat for Humanity. She will be based inAlabama.

IronshoreInc. named Christian Haucke as branchexecutive of the Moutain West Region to lead development efforts inthe Denver, Colo. office.

Locktonnamed Kristin Dixon assistant vicepresident-account exective. In this new role, she will beresponsible for the financial services insurance programdevelopment, negotiation, placement and service for corporateclients.

New Programs

Zurich North America prepared a package of initiatives to assist auto dealersin managing their credit origination processes. These initativesare designed to assist dealerships in limiting risk associated withallegations involving noncompliance with fair lendinglaws.

Mergers & Acquisitions

USI Insurance Services acquiredOscar & Assocs. of West Caldwell, N.J.Oscar & Assocs. will be combined in Emerson Reid LLC, USI'sbenefits wholesale operation.

EPIC acquired certain assets of program specialistAtlus Specialty Group, specifically the programbook of business. This acquisition is part of the company's plan topursue national expansion by capital from the Carlyle Group andStone Point Capital.

Willis North America announcedthe aquisition of the employee benefits consulting division ofCapital Strategies Group Inc. in Birgmingham,Ala.

SIA Group purchasedParkway Insurance Services, a home, auto, healthand business insurance agency located in Lenoir, N.C.