People & Places

Columbus, Ohio–based surplus line insurer Century Surety Co. announced the promotions of both Erin E. Alward to chief financial officer and Steve R. Young to chief investment officer.

Alward has more than seven years’ experience working in financial accounting, internal controls and auditing. She joined Century Surety in 2001 after spending four years with KPMG LLP. In her new role, Alward will be responsible for the company’s overall financial functions including planning and analysis, external reporting, regulatory requirements and accounting and financial processes. She will report directly to Charles Hamm, CFO of Century Surety’s parent company, ProCentury Corp.

Young brings more than 20 years of investment management and accounting experience to the position of CIO. Prior to joining Century Surety in 2002, Young spent three years as a principal at Stonehenge Partners, a private equity and investment banking firm also in Columbus. In addition, Young was employed as a director at Banc One Capital Corp. and worked as an investment banker at Salomon Smith Barney in New York.

As CIO, Young’s responsibilities will include investment policy and strategy, asset and liability management, asset allocation and regulatory investment compliance. He will also report directly to Hamm.

Century Surety underwrites general liability, commercial property and multiperil insurance for small and midsized businesses. Century Surety primarily writes excess and surplus lines insurance and markets its products through a select network of general agents and brokers.

Overland Park, Kan.–based emergency services program administrator The American Agency has hired W.H. Leonard as its new vice president of risk management and client services. Prior to joining the American Agency, Leonard headed up EMS insurance programs for AZSTAR Insurance Co. and Medical Transportation Insurance Professionals.

Leonard will provide a wide variety of risk management services to existing and prospective clients. The American Agency offers packages for ambulances, hospital fleets and wheelchair vans. It was formerly a part of Royal and SunAlliance Insurance Cos. before being acquired by Handler, Clements and Associates Inc. in September 2003.

Jeffrey Myers, a 15–year industry communications veteran with extensive experience at the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big I) and elsewhere, has been named the new executive director of Trusted Choice. Myers will manage the day–to–day operations of Trusted Choice, including: strategic planning and implementation, agent and consumer marketing, agent–and–broker as well as carrier recruitment, advertising programs, Trusted Choice Web site resources and public relations.

Myers most recently was vice president of communications with management responsibility for the association’s member, consumer and media communications programs. Prior to that, he managed its public affairs communications, helping to establish the Big I as a key source for business and insurance media on legislative and regulatory issues. Prior to joining the Big I in 1989, Myers was a public relations specialist with the U.S. Army stationed in Washington, D.C.

The InVEST board of directors has added three new members. They are Nancy Baily, president and CEO of First Floridian, Loree Toedman, assistant vice president of sales and agency operations for Allstate Insurance Co., and Kevin Mangan, an independent agent with Hugh Cotton Insurance.

InVEST is an education program that develops a diverse pool of insurance professionals and informed consumers by educating high school and community college students on insurance, financial services and risk management.

CNA insurance companies named Margaret N. Redd vice president of its Chicago branch operations. Redd has more than 25 years of insurance experience. Most recently, she was the national assistant vice president of distribution for CNA’s field operations.

Since joining CNA in 1989, she has served in numerous branch, regional and national positions, including: branch sales and distribution manager, national sales and marketing manager and assistant vice president of distribution for the Central region. Redd began her career with the St. Paul Cos., where she held various positions in casualty underwriting, sales management and construction supervision.

Swiss insurer Zurich has named Robert Lindemann president of the middle markets business unit of its North American commercial business division headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill.

Lindemann brings 29 years of commercial insurance experience with the Kemper Insurance Cos. to his new position at Zurich. Most recently, he served as president of Kemper’s American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co., where he was responsible for all aspects of middle market and small business operations. He also has held senior–level positions in Kemper’s underwriting, claims and managed care operations. Lindemann began his career as an underwriter and has extensive experience managing both home office and field office organizations.

Specialty–lines brokerage Heath Insurance Brokers announced that Chris Kaspar has joined its Chicago office as an assistant vice president and property broker. He comes to Heath after spending eight years working in the property wholesale arena, most recently with Swett & Crawford in Chicago. Kaspar will be responsible for the production and marketing of property brokerage business. Heath employs 350 people and placed nearly $1 billion in gross premium last year.

Stephen Siemer has been named chief operating officer at First Nonprofit Insurance Co. in Chicago. This announcement brings an end to a nationwide search undertaken by the property/casualty insurer.

Reporting directly to First Nonprofit CEO Phillip R. Warth Jr., Siemer will direct all day–to–day home office activities and will also provide strategic vision and insight into all core insurance operations, including underwriting, claims, marketing and finance.

Siemer joins the specialty insurer with 25 years of experience in multiple facets of the insurance industry. In his most recent position, he served as vice president of corporate information at CNA Insurance Co. of Chicago. His extensive background also includes experience in roles such as vice president of financial projects, Eastern region controller, manager of information development and design and senior financial analyst, and senior auditor.

The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame inducted two new members last month at its annual ceremony on the campus of Olivet College.

Morrall M. Claramunt, the executive vice president of Frankenmuth Insurance Co., has been an active advocate of the insurance industry. He has been an instructor of insurance classes, recruited and mentored young people, and represented the industry in many arenas.

Claramunt has served as treasurer and chairman of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, president of the Michigan Insurance Federation and the Insurance Information Association of Michigan and was active in the formation of the Insurance Institute of Michigan. Locally, he was president of the Northwestern Michigan Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter chapter.

Ralph J. Ladd of Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., was inducted posthumously. Ladd retired from Amerisure Mutual Insurance Co. (formerly known as Michigan Mutual Insurance Co.) as chairman and CEO after more than 43 years with the company. He dedicated time to numerous organizations that helped the insurance industry better serve the public, including the Olivet College board of trustees, the Alliance of American Insurers, the Property and Casualty Insurance Council, the Michigan Association of Insurance Cos., the Mutual Reinsurance Bureau, and the Improved Risk Mutuals.

The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame was established at Olivet College in 1994 as a way to pay tribute to individuals who have made a significant impact on the ability of the Michigan insurance and risk management industry to serve the public. An election panel, representing a cross–section of the insurance and risk management business, identifies leaders and innovators who have made significant contributions in five areas: product or service development, education, recruiting new participants, legislative activity, and exemplary service. Olivet College is also home to a nationally recognized undergraduate insurance and risk management program.

The Insurance Marketing Communications Association announced that Ron Rice has been elected IMCA president for the 2004–2005 year. Rice is National SuretyLink program manager for Safeco Insurance in Redmond, Wash., where he oversees the development and deployment of all e–commerce services for Safeco Surety, one of the top five writers of surety bonds in the country. A resident of Seattle, he has more than 20 years experience in marketing, communications, public relations and creative services, much of that within the insurance and surety industries.

To submit information for this department, e–mail: koreilly@insurancejournal.com.