Hires and Promotions at Markel Corp., Lockton and more - Around the Industry

People & Places

Markel names president of AUMA: Markel Corp. announced that Audrey Hanken will serve as president of the American Underwriting Managers Agency and the Markel American business unit. Prior, Hanken worked for 17 years with Markel, most recently as product management director. She has 20 years of industry experience. 

New Day promotes SVP, AVP: New Day Underwriting Mangers named John Heft senior vice president, director of real estate practice. Heft will identify and develop new and existing retail brokerage relationships, and provide insurance and optimal risk management solutions to retail broker partners and their clients. Prior, Heft worked for 6 years with New Day. He has more than 20 years of environmental underwriting experience. New Day also named Maureen Efthyvoulou assistant vice president of underwriting support and compliance. Efthyvoulou will supervise compliance and claims processing of the account management team. Prior, she worked as an account manager at New Day for 7 years. Efthyvoulou has more than 30 years of industry experience.

Lockton hires SVP, VP: Lockton named Erick Silverstein senior vice president of the national casualty insurance practice. Silverstein will also lead the national accounts team for the Southeast U.S. region, based out of Atlanta. In his new role, he will provide support and guidance to clients in the Southeast and nationally while strengthening relationships with insurance underwriters. Prior, Silverstein worked for 8 years as casualty practice leader at Beecher Carlson. He has more than 25 years of P&C experience. Lockton's Chicago office also hired Heidi Hepburn to be vice president and account executive. She will work in the company's newly expanded trade credit and political risk division, overseeing the production, placement and servicing of Lockton's trade credit and political risk business. Prior, Hepburn ran her own trade credit and political risk insurance brokerage. She has nearly 30 years of industry experience.

Beecher Carlson promotes senior manager: Beecher Carlson named Sharon Brainard senior managing director. She will manage East Coast operations for the national casualty brokerage practice. Prior, Brainard worked as a senior casualty team member at Beecher Carlson for 5 years. She has more than 18 years of industry experience.

Read on for Neace Lukens' Acquisition of Matrix Benefits and Consulting and New Programs at Great American Insurance Group, QBE, Norman-Spencer, Zurich and Hagerty

Mergers & Acquisitions

Neace Lukens acquires Matrix Benefits and Consulting: Neace Lukens, an AssuredPartners company, bought Matrix Benefits and Consulting Group out of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Neace Lukens acquired Matrix in an effort to expand the company's reach in Northeast Indiana. Matrix employees will now report to the Neace Lukens Indianapolis office.

New Programs

Great American introduces abuse and molestation coverage: Great American Insurance Group announced its new coverage option for abuse or molestation with expenses covered outside of limits. The Specialty Human Services Division will offer coverage to independent agents who market to social service organizations. The coverage option pays specified claim and legal defense costs outside policy limits and provides a broad definition of abuse including any actual, threatened or alleged conduct and error or omission in sexual and non-sexual situations. For more information contact Jeffrey Cruey, CPCU divisional senior vice president specialty human services division.

QBE offers small- and medium-sized business EPLI: QBE introduced its employment practices liability insurance for small- and medium-sized business. The enhanced EPLI offerings include access to online loss prevention services as well as training and human resources tool centers—where employee handbooks, forms and policies can be customized. It also includes an employment liability attorney toll-free help line.

Norman-Spencer launches First Marine: Norman-Spencer Agency announced First Marine, a new A+ rated, nationally admitted P&C coverage product. First Marine coverage options include: boat dealer inventory; docks, piers and wharves; marina owners legal liability (MOLL); protection and indemnity (P&I); owned watercraft; property, inland marine, crime, general liability, commercial auto; and umbrella. It also provides coverage enhancements including personal use of boats in inventory by owners and officers, loaner boat coverage, dock debris removal up to $250,000, replacement cost or ACV options available for piers, wharves and docks, medical payments on P&I with no deductible, and crew coverage available under P&I.

Zurich and AGC-CA introduce member program: The Associated General Contractors of California (AGC-CA) and Zurich announced their collaboration on a comprehensive insurance program for all AGC-CA members. Under the agreement, Zurich will provide AGC-CA members with insurance solutions for workers' compensation, general liability, auto and property coverages, and comprehensive safety and risk management services.

Hagerty opens to Canadian markets: Hagerty Canada, a subsidiary of Hagerty Insurance Agency, announced it is now available to all Canadian brokers. This move is underwritten by Aviva Canada and allows Canadian brokers to sell Hagerty's coverage to owners of classic vehicles. Hagerty will offer its Agreed Value coverage to Canadian customers. Agreed Value includes no appraisal requirements, flexible usage with no mileage restrictions, multi-car liability, claims-free discounts at renewal, and ability for clients to pick their own repair shop in the event of a claim.