Kevin Callahan has been appointed chief executive officer for Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc., an Addison, Texas-based nonstandard auto insurer, the company announced.

Mr. Callahan, 45, joined Affirmative as board chairman in November 2005 and has been serving as the company's interim CEO since that time.

Previously, Mr. Callahan was CEO of Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company from 2002 to 2004 and served as CEO of Aon Capital Markets from 1996 to 2002.

Mr. Callahan said the company currently has “a great opportunity to expand our market position by providing nonstandard automobile insurance customers with consistently strong service at an affordable price.”

The nonstandard industry, he said, is in its infancy, and Affirmative has a unique opportunity to set a higher standard and be rewarded for doing so.

Nonstandard firms specialize in insuring drivers with weak finances, a record of traffic accidents or violations, or who have been canceled or refused insurance. Alliance says it is focused on highly targeted geographic markets.

The company also announced that Alan Rasof, 41, has joined the company as president of its Retail Division, replacing Katherine Nolan, who has resigned from the company. Last year Mr. Rasof sold Newins Insurance, a nonstandard auto insurance agency that he had built.

Charlene Barnard, 46, has been appointed to the newly created position of chief marketing officer. Prior to joining Affirmative, Ms. Barnard was chief marketing officer for Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company.

Joseph Fisher, 36, has joined the company as general counsel, replacing David Snyder, who has assumed the role of associate general counsel. Mr. Fisher comes to Affirmative from McDermott Will & Emery.

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