New Leaders in 2013

The year 2012 brought news of industry leadership changes taking effect in 2013. Some of the people to watch in 2013 include:

Brian Duperreault, retired as president and CEO of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. at the end of 2012. Daniel S. Glaser, currently the company’s group president and chief operating officer, succeeds Duperreault as president and CEO. Upon his retirement as president and CEO, Duperreault will also retire from the company’s board of directors. Glaser will join the board as a director, also effective Jan. 1, 2013. Glaser previously served as chairman and CEO of Marsh Inc.

Dominic Casserley, currently a senior partner of McKinsey & Co., will serve as the new CEO of global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings. Also, Steve Hearn, currently the chairman and CEO of Willis Global, will serve as deputy CEO and Joe Plumeri, who has served as chairman and CEO of Willis Group since 2000 and led the company back to public ownership and steered its global expansion during his 12-year tenure, will serve as non-executive chairman through July 2013.

Bala Cynwyd, Penn.-based Philadelphia Insurance Cos. said Chairman and CEO Jamie Maguire is stepping aside as CEO. He will remain as chairman of the board. Sean Sweeney, currently the company’s president and chief operating officer, is assuming the title of president and CEO effective January 2013. Maguire was named CEO in 2002, succeeding his father, James Maguire, Sr., who founded the company 50 years ago in 1962. Under the younger Maguire’s leadership, the insurer’s revenues grew from $460 million to $2 billion.

Look for a new chief executive officer at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2012. Dr. Therese M. Vaughan stepped down from that position effective Nov. 30. Andrew Beal has been selected as acting CEO while the NAIC conducts a national search for a new top executive. Vaughan has served as NAIC CEO since February 2009.

Greenwich, Conn.-headquartered W.R. Berkley Corp. named Gregory A. Douglas its president of its B F Re Underwriters unit. Douglas succeeds Daniel L. Avery, who served as president of B F Re Underwriters since it was established in 2002. Avery will continue to oversee other activities within the W.R. Berkley Corp. group of companies. Douglas joined B F Re as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2010.

Houston-based HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. CEO John N. Molbeck, Jr. stepped down as the company’s chief executive in December and Christopher J.B. Williams, president, moved into the CEO’s office. Molbeck will remain actively involved with the company through his planned retirement date of May 31, 2013, and is expected to continue to serve on the HCC board. Along with the appointment of Williams’ as CEO, Chief Operating Officer William N. Burke, Jr., was promoted to president and chief operating officer for the new year.