People on the move in the P&C insurance industry: Jan. 10, 2020

Jeff Saper has been appointed CEO of the Pacific region for Guy Carpenter & Company LLC. He rejoined the company in 2014 as head of casualty facultative for Asia Pacific and head of facultative for Australia and will maintain these responsibilities in his new role. JAG Insurance Group, a South Florida-based commercial insurance agency, appointed Omar Barerra has joined the firm to lead a newly-formed division, JAG Financial Services. He brings more than a decade of experience, most recently as a financial service professional with Mass Mutual. Kathy Pallarito has been hired as a personal lines manager at POWERS Insurance & Risk Management. Pallarito most recently served as a personal risk advisor at USI Insurance Services. Brit Ltd appointed Douglas Ruhlman assistant vice president, cyber for Brit Global Specialty USA. He comes to Brit from American International Group, where he was a commercial underwriter, financial lines with a focus on large cyber accounts. The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. announced the following appointments:

• Matthew S. Mitchell - president of The Hanover's middle market business
• Scott Grieco - chief product and underwriting officer for the company's commercial and specialty businesses

Kim Cross has been promoted to acting deputy commissioner for supervision at the Iowa Insurance Division as Jim Armstrong, longtime deputy commissioner for supervision, has retired after more than 35 years serving. Cross joined the Iowa Insurance Division in 1989 and has served as chief examiner since 2016. The Iowa Insurance Division also announced that Ben Olejnik has been promoted to fraud bureau chief. Olejnik has served as a law enforcement officer in the Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau since 2017. CopperPoint Insurance Companies announced that Brad Lontz has joined the company as senior vice president and chief information officer. Most recently, he served as the chief information officer for the California Dental Association. Paul O'Ryan has been appointed Canadian territory manager, general aviation at Starr Insurance Companies. He previously served as head of aviation, North America at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. Holmes Murphy announced the addition of three new members to its board of managers as well as three members to its executive committee:

• The new members of the board of managers are Brad Bierman, senior vice president, employee benefits; Kari Cooling, senior vice president, market leader, property & casualty; and Jay Reavis, senior vice president, market leader, property & casualty.
• The new members of the executive committee are Wally Gomaa, CEO of ACAP HealthWorks; Charisse McCumber, senior vice president, employee benefits; and Tom Stewart, president of Innovative Captive Strategies.

Bob O'Leary, president and CEO at Philadelphia Insurance Companies, has been named chairman, succeeding the departing Jamie Maguire. Over 35 years, O'Leary has held several leadership positions, including chief marketing officer, before becoming president and CEO in 2013. QBE North America appointed Tom Fitzgerald president, specialty & commercial. He most recently served as CEO of Aon Risk Solutions's global broking operations. Peter Gilbertson has been named commercial lines practice leader for the Greater San Francisco Bay Area at USI Insurance Services. Previously, he led USI's national private equity practice and served as a member of the firm's corporate development and carrier relations team. The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I") named Chris Boggs executive director of risk management and education. Boggs's new role combines his current position of Big "I" Virtual University executive director with directorship in Big I Advantage, a for-profit subsidiary of the Big "I". Big I Advantage also appointed Mark Steven Wolf president of Big I Advantage Inc., IIAA Agency Administrative Services Inc., IIAA Membership Services Inc. and Big "I" Reinsurance Company. Before beginning his new role, Wolf served as vice president of Big I Advantage. Ray Santiago has been named executive vice president and leader of United States commercial management liability and financial institutions teams at Sompo International Holdings Ltd. Most recently, he was senior vice president of underwriting for XL Catlin's professional liability team. Hastings Mutual Insurance Company promoted Renee R. Beauford to senior vice president of operations. Since joining Hastings Mutual in 2007, her most recent position at the company being vice president - chief claim officer. Sharon Edwards has been appointed chief operating officer at Risk Strategies. She previously served as chief financial officer (CFO) of Willis Towers Watson's (WTW) corporate risk and broking segment, as well as CFO for WTW's North America segment. Selligent announced that Matthew Saskin has joined the company as vice president of customer experience. Saskin brings more than 15 years of customer experience and digital strategy experience to Selligent, most recently serving as vice president and general manager of Dimension Data's customer experience practice for the Americas. Tim Mosler has been named a principal and consulting actuary at Pinnacle Actuarial Resources Inc. He previously served as director and consulting actuary and a member of Pinnacle's executive team. RT Specialty named Aleksander Soriano account administrator within its environmental and construction professional practice. Prior to joining RT, Soriano served as an earnings estimates data analyst at Bloomberg LP and qualified marketing associate at the Martin Insurance Group. Distinguished Programs announced the following appointments:

• Tom Lane - promoted to regional sales executive for New York State, Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island
• Paul R. Zeni - hired as the company's new Northern California regional sales executive

Related: People on the move in the P&C insurance industry: Dec. 27, 2019