People and Places
United Agencies Inc. Insurance announced that Judith A. Houver has been hired as the new general manager for its Pasadena, Calif., headquarters. She will be responsible for carrier relationships, troubleshooting for the multiple member agencies of United Agencies Inc., and new product and program development. She began her insurance career as an Allstate agent in 1973. Houver has progressed in sales, marketing and management within the retail agency environment over the last 30 years.
Mary King has joined Howard James/ Burns & Wilcox as the new branch manager of the company’s Los Angeles office. She is responsible for overseeing the continued development and growth of the branch and will manage the company’s financial operations, staff development and retail agent relationships. Prior to joining the company, King served as senior vice president/branch manager with Swett & Crawford and was responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s Los Angeles operations. She has worked as a risk management consultant to businesses, public agencies and associations, and has also held management positions with insurance companies. King has more than 27 years of experience in the insurance industry.
Los Angeles-based Topa Insurance Company announced the promotion of Larry Esposito to vice president, commercial lines underwriting. Esposito is a 32-year veteran of the property/casualty industry and has been with Topa Insurance for 18 years. Topa’s Commercial Casualty department has grown steadily under his direction.
Worchester, Mass.-based Allmerica Financial Corporation has named Marita Zuraitis president of Allmerica’s property and casualty companies. Zuraitis will be responsible for the personal and commercial lines operations at Citizens Insurance Company of America, The Hanover Insurance Company and their affiliates. She comes to Allmerica from St. Paul Travelers where she played a key role in the formation of the company through the merger of The St. Paul Companies and Travelers Property and Casualty. Since 1998, she served as president and CEO of St. Paul’s commercial lines division, where she was responsible for the company’s small commercial, middle market and large property and casualty solutions business units, including field operations. From 1993 to 1998, Zuraitis held senior positions at United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company (which merged with The St. Paul Companies in 1998). She held field and home office leadership roles in the company’s personal and commercial lines segments, and was responsible for various aspects of the company’s reinsurance and underwriting operations. Zuraitis also held management positions at Aetna Life and Casualty from 1982 through 1993.
ABD Insurance and Financial Services announced the appointment of Dan Francis as COO. Francis will assume responsibility for the company’s overall business strategy and tactics and ongoing growth initiatives. He will be responsible for enhancing external relationships with markets, large accounts, centers of influence and others within the insurance industry; expanding ABD geographically and through mergers and acquisitions; assessing strategic areas of potential growth for ABD; and managing recruitment of high-end producers and production teams. Francis has more than 25 years of brokerage operations and management experience. He has provided insurance broking services to the High Technology and Life Sciences communities throughout his career, developing risk management and insurance programs for a number of Fortune 500 high-tech firms headquartered in Silicon Valley.
Torrance, Calif.-based ePolicy Solutions Inc. has elected Geoff Smith to its board of directors, and promoted William S. “Billy” McCarter to executive vice president and COO.
Smith previously served as executive vice president and COO for ePolicy Solutions and joined the company soon after it was founded. He worked for The Hartford Financial Services Group for over 30 years.
McCarter joined ePolicy Solutions in 2002 after serving as senior vice president and chief information officer (CIO) at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and as regional CIO for Allianz of North America.
Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Heffernan Insurance Brokers has hired Stuart Grosswirth as a producer. He will develop new business opportunities, primarily in the building service contractors industry, but will also generate activity in the painting and trucking industries. Grosswirth’s production and account responsibilities will be focused in the Bay Area, with expansion projected nationwide. He joins Heffernan after a career at California Insurance Center. Grosswirth also worked for Andrieni & Associates, where he focused on the building service contracting industry. He is a member of Pacific Association of Building Service Contractors and Building Service Contractors Association International.
Dealey, Renton & Associates has hired Ronald Srajer as executive account manager in the firm’s Santa Ana, Calif., office. Srajer will be responsible for assisting the sales staff in maintaining client relationships and monitoring their insurance and risk management needs. He most recently served as vice president of business development in the Topeka, Kan., office of IMA of Kansas Inc.
Cindy Haapala and Pat Leppig have formed Southern California-based P & C Professional Staffing. Haapala’s 25-year career has spanned all areas of the insurance agency environment from customer service to producer. Her experience includes both personal and commercial lines in the wholesale and retail arena.
Leppig has worked in the insurance industry for 25 years as a licensed account manager, first in personal lines then commercial lines as well as public entity accounts. Leppig also has 10 years of experience in the insurance staffing industry.