People and Places
The Insurance Information Institute has elected Dr. Robert P. Hartwig to president; promoted Dr. L. James Valverde Jr. to vice president of Economics and Risk Management; and announced the retirement of Gordon Stewart, president, after 15 years with III.
Hartwig, currently senior vice president and chief economist, will become president on Jan. 1, 2007.
Stewart joined III in July 1989 after a career in politics, business, theater, music and teaching. From 1982 to 1989, he was vice president for public affairs at the American Stock Exchange and served in the White House as deputy chief speechwriter to President Carter.
Hartwig came to III in 1998 as a vice president and economist. In 1999 he was promoted to chief economist and in 2002 became senior vice president and chief economist. Hartwig previously served at the National Council on Compensation Insurance in Boca Raton, Fla.
Valverde joined III in August 2005 as director of Economics and Risk Management, focusing on enterprise risk management, global climate change and extreme weather, natural catastrophes and terrorism. In recent years, Valverde has held senior executive positions in several international consulting firms.
Peerless Insurance, a member of Liberty Mutual Group, announced the appointment of Linda O’Donnell to vice president of underwriting for commercial lines. O’Donnell will oversee underwriting policy and quality management for all regional and branch commercial operations in Peerless Insurance’s nine state operating territory. O’Donnell most recently served as vice president of commercial lines underwriting for the Liberty Mutual Agency Markets strategic business unit.
Manhasset, N.Y.-based NIF Group Inc., a program administrator and general agency, has named Michael P. Orlando as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He will be responsible for operations, bookkeeping and investments. Orlando previously served as information technology manager.
NIF Group, Inc. also announced that John A. Buckley has been named president of NIF Services of New York Inc., a branch office of NIF Group Inc. Buckley previously served as senior vice president for the New York office.
In addition, Daniel M. Mogelnicki has been named president of NIF Underwriting Facilities Inc. He is responsible for all property and casualty operations for NIF’s largest branch office. Mogelnicki previously served as senior vice president for the Manhasset branch office of NIF Group, Inc.
The Excess Line Association of New York has appointed Terry L. Harlow as director of education and communications. Harlow will be responsible for membership communication and will direct educational and training internally and for the industry on ELANY’s behalf. Prior to joining ELANY, Harlow was a vice president of learning for Marsh, and before that was with Citigroup.
Electric Insurance Co. in Beverly, Mass. has named Marc A. Meiches president and chief executive officer, effective July 1. Meiches succeeds Larry Cohen who has been acting CEO since April 2005. Meiches comes to Electric Insurance from GE Insurance Solutions where he was the executive vice president and chief financial officer. He joined GEIS in 2000 with more than 20 years of financial experience with global organizations.
New York Superintendent of Insurance Howard Mills has appointed Michael J. Tobin as the New York State Insurance Department’s deputy general counsel. He will report to Susan Donnellan, deputy superintendent and general counsel. Tobin had been the department’s legislative counsel since December 2001. Prior to joining the insurance department, Tobin served for three years as associate counsel in the New York State Assembly minority leader’s office.
The Professional Insurance Agents of New York Inc.announced that John O’Shea, chairman of Marshall & Sterling Inc. in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., received the Distinguished Insurance Service award at the association’s annual conference. O’Shea has worked in the insurance industry for more than 50 years. He also has been a member of the advisory councils for several companies.
Ethan Crain has been hired by insurance broker Integro as managing principal and executive broker for the Boston-based arm of the company’s Healthcare Practice. This regional office was created to meet the needs of medical centers and healthcare facilities.
Integro also announced that F. Patrick Baker has been appointed managing principal for the firm’s aviation practice. He will work out of the New York office. He joins Integro from Aon’s Aviation Division.
Branchville, N.J.-based Selective Insurance Co. of America announced the following appointments:
Kathleen Imparato, assistant vice president of Selective’s Business Practices Group. Imparato joined Selective in 2002 as a government affairs liaison.
Michael MacMullin, Ogdensburg, N.J., assistant vice president and personal lines operations program manager. Previously, he served as personal lines manager for Selective’s Business Services Unit.
Alexander Maizys, Mount Arlington, N.J., assistant vice president and director of personal lines pricing. Maizys joined Selective in April 1997 as a senior actuarial analyst.
Steve Plescia, Bel Air, Md., assistant vice president and field operations manager for Selective’s Mid-Atlantic Region. Plescia joined Selective in 1995.
Brad Rigotty, Vernon, N.J., assistant vice president and actuary for actuarial reserving. Rigotty joined Selective in April 2002 as actuarial reserving manager.
Harvey Insurance Group in West Chester, Pa. has promoted Michael Coffey to senior client advisor. Coffey will be responsible for business relationships with mid- to large-size commercial accounts. Coffey joined Harvey in April 2005 as a producer specializing in commercial insurance for small- to mid-sized businesses.