People

Gregg Effner has joined Main Street America Group as assistant vice president of distribution management. Effner, who has 30 years of property/casualty industry experience, will be based at corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., and report to Doug Eden, senior vice president of field operations.

In this newly created position, Effner will develop a distribution strategy, including independent agency management best practices and a compensation strategy. Effner will also establish a strategy relative to aggregators and wholesalers, as well as large agents and brokers. Effner will work in conjunction with the company’s four regional presidents.

Prior to joining Main Street America, Effner was vice president, director of corporate analytics, at Zurich North America in Schaumburg, Ill. Prior to joining Zurich, Effner was at CNA Financial Corp. in Chicago. He has also held management roles at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. USF&G Corp. and Northwestern National Insurance Group.

Insurance broker Marsh Inc. has named Mark C. McGivney as chief financial officer. McGivney joins the firm from the Hanover Insurance Group, where he was senior vice president of finance, corporate treasurer and chief financial officer for the company’s property/casualty business. As CFO, McGivney assumes responsibility for a staff 1,000 people.

McGivney joined The Hanover in 1997 as vice president of mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked in investment banking in the financial institutions sector at Merrill Lynch and Salomon Brothers.

Less than six months after being promoted to the job, Joseph J. Beneducci has tendered his resignation as CEO of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.

Chuck Kavitsky, president of Allianz of America and the former Fireman’s Fund chief executive whom Beneducci replaced, has been named interim CEO.

Beneducci started his job as CEO on Jan. 1, 2007, and resigned for personal and career reasons, according to Susan Murdy, the company’s director of media relations.

The company is searching for a new CEO and a permanent successor to Beneducci.

Beneducci is a long-time Fireman’s Fund executive, having joined the company in 1998 after a 10-year career at Chubb. He previously served as president and chief operating officer before succeeding Kavitsky, who was promoted to a new position as president of Allianz of America.

Sandra L. Hubbard has been promoted to a senior vice president at TD Banknorth Insurance Agency Inc. in South Portland, Maine .She will oversee the commercial lines service department. Hubbard joined TD Banknorth in 2004 and has 21 years of insurance experience.

C.V. Starr & Co. has promoted Jeffrey M. Hafter to president, replacing William J. Weichold, who is retiring after 24 years with the company.

Hafter was recently executive vice president of C.V. Starr & Co. with responsibility for developing the company’s East coast expansion and supporting the parent company in the acquisition of new agencies. Hafter held various senior management positions with the company between 2001 and 2004. Prior to joining C.V. Starr & Co., Hafter held several positions with major insurers from 1987 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2006.

Carol L. DiPietro has been appointed senior vice president of field operations of Meadowbrook/TPA Associates. She is based in the Andover, Mass., office. DiPietro is responsible for managing the revenue stream, both from insurance programs and self-insurance groups throughout the northeast. DiPietro has been with Meadowbrook/TPA for more than 12 years.

Insurance broker Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. of Richmond, Va., has hired Mary S. Botkin as senior vice president and health care industry practice leader. Botkin will be responsible for helping the practice grow revenues by working closely with the practice’s steering committee, other practice members, and HRH branch offices. Botkin joins HRH from Alliant Insurance Services.

OneBeacon Insurance Group named Joseph Caufield as chief underwriting officer for its OneBeacon Government Risk Solutions business. Caufield is based in Pennsylvania and reports directly to Josette Kiel, head of OneBeacon Government Risk Solutions.

Caufield most recently he was the Public Entity Program Manager for the Glatfelter Insurance Group, a privately-owned insurance broker.

Kansas City-based wholesale broker Westrope has added Joyce James as the Eastern Region client manager, responsible for client relationships, service and account retention. James has more than 20 years of insurance experience.