The Liberty Company InsuranceBrokers has appointed JonAxel managing partner of its Los Angeles office. Hejoins from Hub International where he served as senior vicepresident.

Megan Smith has been appointed companypartners manager for Ohio Insurance Agents. Smithjoins from Grange Insurance where she served as a salesmanager.

PMA Companies, part of the Old RepublicGeneral Insurance Group, has promoted JohnSantulli to president and chief operating officer.Santulli previously served as executive vice president of riskservices and sales.

QBE North America, an operating division of QBE InsuranceGroup, announced the following appointments:

• Jamie Luce - senior vicepresident
• Julie Hespe - product leader for thecompany's commercial portfolio

Marianna Wilson has been appointedprofessional liability director for national accountsfor TheIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America's Big “I”Professional Liability Program. Wilson joins fromthe Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia where she served asprogram manager.

The Hartford hasappointed Bruce Shuman chief digital andcustomer experience officer, a new position at the company. Shumanmost recently served with Travelers where he held leadershippositions in enterprise e-business and operations.

Jared Mathis has been promoted toexecutive vice president for Blue River Underwriters, aBreckenridge Insurance Group company. Mathis joined Blue River in2012 to develop its property underwriting capabilities and willcontinue to lead the specialty property program.

Hanover Stone Partners LLC hasappointed Barry E. Thompson to leadWorkersComp Guard, its latest national practice group. Thompsonconcurrently serves as president of Risk Acuity LLC, a nationalconsulting firm he founded in 2002.

Thomas Duggan has been promoted to chiefclaims officer for Ironshore Environmental and will belocated in their New York office. Duggan previously served asclaims director.

Stephens Insurance LLC, an affiliate ofStephens Inc., announced the opening its P&C brokerage officein Birmingham, Alabama. The following appointments will lead itslatest division:

• Tice Young - senior vicepresident
• Donna Sanford - senior vicepresident
• James Kennedy - vice president
• Marty Hall - account manager

Dallas-based legal representative HermesLaw announced that NathanShackelford and Ryan D.Brown have been added to its team of attorneys.

Gavin Shiels has been appointed seniorvice president for JLT Specialty USA, a U.S. subsidiaryof Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group. Shiels joins from Aon where he wassenior vice president in the San Francisco office.

Chubb has appointed ScottGunter senior vice president, Chubb Group, divisionpresident, North America commercial insurance. Gunter previouslyserved as chief operating officer in Chubb's North America personalrisk services division.

Sheryl Bolduc has been appointed toSullivan Insurance Group's personallines department. Bolduc has worked in the insurance industry for34 years at several agencies in Central Massachusetts.