Hires and Promotions at Assurance, USG, Worldwide Facilities - Around the Industry

People & Places

Diane Poljak has been promoted to senior vice president, staffing practice leader, at Assurance. With more than 15 years of experience, Poljak's main responsibility is to set both the strategy and vision of the staffing team based on client needs and the industry as a whole. Sh

USG Insurance Services Inc. announced the expansion of operations in its New Brighton, Minn,. office with the addition of Jeff Olson as a producer/broker. Olson previously served as senior account manager and commercial lines broker at Ramsgate Insurance in Minneapolis.

James F. Langan joined Worldwide Facilities Inc. as vice president. He will be responsible for promoting the casualty products available from Worldwide Facilities' many markets. He comes to the company from Risk Placement Services.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Univest Corp. of Pennsylvania bought John T. Fretz Insurance Agency, a family-owned-and-operated property and casualty insurance agency that provides personal and commercial lines. Both Univest and Fretz are based in Souderton, Pa. Univest said the deal was completed Wednesday and expands the bank's insurance business market share in Montgomery County. Fretz will become part of Univest's insurance subsidiary, Univest Insurance.

Cleveland-based business consultancy CBIZ Inc., acquired Minneapolis-based Associated Insurance Agents (AIA) for an undisclosed sum on May 3. AIA is an insurance brokerage agency that specializes in property and casualty insurance, personal lines, and health benefit insurance for clients primarily in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

Agency Technology

Chubb Personal Insurance launched an iPad application that makes it easy for agents and brokers who are out of the office to access Chubb policies, marketing materials and the status of claims. The free @chubb Mobile app enables agents to use their password-protected Chubb ID to access Chubb's Masterpiece homeowners' policy processing system; real-time claims information; rule and rate manuals from each state; and coverage summaries. A resource center provides links to www.chubb.com/personal, where agents can find product and service information, loss prevention tips and available discounts.