People – Southeast

Florida’s state-backed homeowners insurer has reached into the private sector for its new president, selecting an experienced insurance executive and consultant.

The Citizens Property Insurance Corp. board of governors unanimously selected Barry J. Gilway as president to lead the insurer that is looking to raise its rates and lower it policyholder count.

Gilway will replace Tom Grady, who has been serving as interim president since Scott Wallace left the top job in March.

Gilway was chosen largely for his private sector experience. His resume includes stints as senior vice president with W.R. Berkley Corp. (1987-1990); president and CEO with Zurich Financial’s $1.4 billion subsidiary Maryland Casualty Group (1990-1998); president and CEO of Zenith North America Canada (1998-2002); and executive vice president, Zurich North America (2002-2006).

From 2006 through 2008, he honored a non-compete agreement he signed with Zurich North America that kept him out of the insurance industry.

In 2008, he signed on with Mystic Capital Advisors, a mergers and acquisitions consulting firm for independent agencies and managing general agencies. In May 2009, he joined Mattei Insurance Services, a $30 million managing general agency in Seattle to help turn it around.

Gilway beat out Glenn Pomeroy, the current CEO of the California Earthquake Authority and a former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, and current interim president, Grady.

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents installed its new officers and board members for the 2012-2013 at its 108th Annual Convention and Educational Symposium.

John C. Laurie is the new FAIA chair for 2012-2013. Laurie has previously served on FAIA’s board of directors and was the chair of the association’s property insurance task force in 2006-2007.

Laurie is vice president and agency manager for Bradenton, Fla.-based BB&T Insurance Services. He has received numerous awards and served on several state and volunteer boards and was a business columnist for the Bradenton Herald.

Samuel B. Rogers was elected as FAIA’s new chairman-elect. Rogers, a 30-year veteran of the insurance industry, is the CEO of the Tallahassee-based Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance Inc. He has served FAIA as a member and chair of its educational council, finance committee, and insurance program committees.

Jeff Schlitt, vice president and head of the commercial department with the Vero Beach-based Schlitt Insurance Services, was selected as FAIA’s new vice chair. Schlitt is also president of the InsurCorp Agency Alliance.

The association also named three new directors including Brendan Lynch, owner of the Plastridge Insurance Agency; Nicole Williams, personal lines manager with Waddell Insurance Group, and Frank Kowalski, president of the Koski & Company Insurance Agents.

FAIA also awarded Bill Gunter its prestigious Mitchell Stallings Award. Gunter began his career in 1959 as one of the founders of the Rodger, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance Inc. In addition to a long career of service with FAIA, Gunter served as a member of the Florida Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and was the state’s treasurer and insurance commissioner from 1976 to 1988.

Erie, Penn.-based Erie Insurance Group appointed Brad Postema as senior vice president and chief investment officer. In his new role, Postema will be responsible for the investment strategies of Erie Insurance Exchange, its underwriting subsidiaries and Erie Indemnity Co.

Postema joins Erie from GE Asset Management in Stamford, Conn. He most recently served at GE Asset Management as senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for insurance.