Batson brings 15 years of experience working in the Tennessee insurance market to his new role.

Commercial-lines rates were up 1.5% in July, while personal-lines rate increased by 3%.

The estimated percentage of uninsured motorists trended down in 2010, 2011, and 2012, according to a new study from the Insurance Research Council.

The changing of the guard occurs as AIG reports strong Q2 earnings that beat estimates.