New Hires and Promotions at Vertafore, The Hartford, Lockton, Hylant and More - Around the Industry

People & Places

Larry Hagerty was selected to head Vertafore's producer lifecycle management and information business as its senior vice president and general manager. Hagerty previously served as president of MedAptus and CEO of Medstat.

Lockton expanded its Denver operations with the addition of Kim Gately, vice president and account executive. Gately has extensive risk management experience and is a veteran energy specialist. She specializes in creating complex insurance products and risk management solutions for fast-growing firms in the energy sector.

Susan Bencher joined The Hartford as head of its public entity property in conjuction with its expanded commercial property practice. The new practice will offer insurance programs for the public entity sector with an emphasis on public entity risk pools. Bencher will manage underwriting, sales and marketing with an initial focus on municipalities, schools, housing authorities and special districts such as water, sewer, parks and recreation and transit.

Allied World announced an expansion of its casualty operations with a new surety line of business available nationally. Robert Staples was appointed senior vice president of the new venture and will oversee the department's development in Philadelphia. Staples has more than 30 years of industry underwriting experience. The surety line will offer contract and commercial bonds as well as environmental bonds either on a standalone basis or in conjunction with Allied's existing environmental insurance.

Ron Joelson and David P. Marks were chosen to join Conning Holdings Corp.'s board of directors as independent directors. Both have successful careers spanning more than 30 years. Joelson is executive vice president and CIO at Northwestern Mutual. Marks is executive vice president and CIO for CUNA Mutual Group.

Hylant promoted Robert Crisan to senior vice president, healthcare reform & strategic growth. Crisan will be an expert resource and assist local offices in development, renewal strategy planning, RFP responses and CE mentoring relating to employee benefits among other duties. Prior to the promotion, Crisan served as senior vice president of employee benefits.

Roger Brunner was named head of programs for Zurich North America. He will be responsible for the operational management of the company's programs business, including underwriting, new program due diligence, sales, marketing and distribution. Zurich also named Frank Baron head of property-casualty for its Specialty Products unit. Throughout his 25-year insurance career, Baron assumed increasing responsibility beginning as an underwriter and, most recently, overseeing Zurich's diversified financial group.

Travelers chose Bill Queen as its president of Ocean Marine. His role will include building upon the business' strengths, services and commitments to its customers. Before the appointment Queen served as COO for Traveler's First Party Group, which included Ocean Marine, Boiler & Machinery and National Property businesses. Queen has worked for Travelers for 26 years.

Paul Vredenburg was promoted to executive vice president and chief aquisition officer at AssuredPartners. He will work to expand the company's national footprint through strategic acquisitions of insurance agencies. Vredenbury has more than 13 years of industry experience.

Willis appointed Lesley Harding as CEO of its European Captive Practice. Harding joined Willis in 2003 and was most recently a client advocate for the company's Global Solutions team. Prior to her career with Willis, Harding worked as an underwriter at Swiss Re and helped set up Arch's European operations.

USG Insurance Services Inc. expanded its operations in Palatine, Ill. with addition of two producer/brokers, Patrick O'Donoghue and Richard Stastny. O'Donoghue was most recently employed at Travis-Pederson & Assocs. Stastny was recently with Atlantic Specialty Lines (Midwest) as an underwriter assistant/account manager.

New Programs

Allied World and The Mechanic Group Inc. reached an agreement to provide primary and excess liability insurance products to private security, electronic security-alarm, security training schools, security consultants, building maintenance and intelligence and investigation firms.

NAS Insurance Services introduced a professional liability solution for accountable care organizations (ACOs). The program combines core E&O and D&O coverage, custom-tailored components and cyber liability for new healthcare delivery organizations and their regulatory exposures.

ISO enhanced its commercial general liability insurance program to include solutions for exposures establishments invite when allowing patrons to bring and consume alcoholic beverages on their premises (commonly known as “Bring Your Own”). In addition to BYO-related coverage options, the expansion includes new restaurant classifications to BYO establishments and rating information with respect to those risks.

Eighteen more states have approved Victor O. Schinnerer & Co.'s expanded real estate E&O policy form. The policy is now available in Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Connecticut, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgial, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampsire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Approval is pending in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusettes, Maryland, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont. Approvals follow Schinnerer's 30th anniversary of providing products and services to real estate professionals.