People

Munich Reinsurance America Inc. announced that John P. Phelan will retire as planned on Dec. 31, 2007, after serving nearly six years as chairman and CEO. Anthony J. Kuczinski, who is president of Munich Re America’s Specialty Markets Division, will succeed Phelan as CEO on Jan. 1, 2008.

Phelan joined Munich Re in 1973. He was CEO of the group’s Canadian non-life reinsurance business for 16 years until March 2002. At the beginning of that month, he became chairman and CEO of Munich Re America (then American Re) and was appointed to Munich Re’s Board of Management in April of the same year. Phelan will also retire from Munich Re’s Board of Management at the end of the year.

Kuczinski began his career with the company in 1989, holding a number of senior positions of responsibility.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America named Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson to serve as the association’s president and CEO.

Sampson has served as the deputy secretary of the Commerce Department since July 2005. Previously, he was assistant secretary of commerce for Economic Development and managed the Economic Development Administration’s $400 million budget and $2.5 billion portfolio of federal economic grants and loans. Prior to joining the Bush Administration in August 2001, Sampson worked in both the public and private sectors. Gov. George W. Bush appointed him chair of the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Development. He also served as vice chair of the Texas Strategic Economic Development Planning Commission. Before beginning his career in public service, Sampson was the president and CEO of the Arlington, Texas, Chamber of Commerce.

Encino, Calif.-based NAS Insurance Services appointed Melvin A. Osswald vice president. Osswald will oversee underwriting and marketing for EPLI and tenant discrimination liability insurance coverages. She has more than 14 years of experience in underwriting and marketing with NAS and other insurance organizations.

Allen Lawrence & Associates based in Canoga Park, Calif., named Steven Young vice president. Young has a background in construction and manufacturing, and will be focusing his attention on middle market firms.

He began his insurance career in 1998 at Associated Risk Managers of California in Canoga Park as a package underwriter. After five years, he moved up to producer at Alliance Insurance, and most recently spent the past several years at Venbrook Insurance Services as an account executive.

Thoits Insurance named Frank Alexander II vice president. Alexander began his 18-year career in the insurance industry with a national insurance company, where he examined medical claims for large employer groups such as Clorox and Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery. He then moved to a national group health carrier. He was later promoted to recruit, hire, train and motivate a team of insurance analysts responsible for the benefits for more than 3,000 employers and 2.5 millions employees and their families.

Kel Plasket joined Marsh, Berry & Co. as vice president to coordinate the firm’s new Agency/Broker Operations Division. Plasket has 25 years of experience in agency operations including sales manager, agency owner, CEO, and operations consultant for agents and brokers of all sizes.

Harry W. Gorst Co. based in Chatsworth, Calif., opened a new office in the Inland Empire and hired Eirik Fulton as senior underwriter. Fulton will be responsible for new business development and increasing the Gorst brand.

Fulton began his insurance career in 1991 at his father’s retail agency, Fairway Insurance Center. After five years as a retail commercial lines producer, he took his skills to Hull & Co. Most recently Fulton moved to Axiom Specialty Insurance.

G.J. Sullivan Co. E&S in San Diego named Cathryn Milazzo a professional lines broker.

Previously, Milazzo was at DeWitt Stern Group of California, specializing in entertainment risks with an additional focus on professional liability insurance. Her introduction to professional liability insurance began in 1997 through her employment with RLI Insurance Co.’s San Diego branch office launched by her husband, Daniel N. Milazzo. Subsequent to her employment with RLI, Milazzo has been a wholesaler of professional liability products at Arrowhead General Insurance Agency and ECM Insurance Services Inc.

Pasadena, Calif.-based Western Security Surplus Insurance Brokers Inc. named three marketing specialists for California and Texas. Reporting to Ron Klimekvice president of marketing and business development are Monica Taylor, Joffrey Waisblatt and Brian Dakota. They will be responsible for driving new business from WSS’ retail agency force, calling on existing clients, and exploring the market to uncover solutions and write new business.

Taylor has more than 20 years of experience on the retail side. She has worked as both sales manager and branch manager in personal lines agencies, and is the former founder and co-owner of Sacramento, Calif.-based Tri Valley Insurance Services Inc., which she sold two years ago.

Dakota began his insurance career in 1977 with Allstate Insurance Co. Over the years, his career kept him on the carrier side as manager and also senior analyst for personal lines product development. He was responsible for the marketing and growth of The Valleon Group, a PEO marketing organization.

Waisblatt is a graduate of UC Irvine with a bachelor’s in political science. He spent three years as the marketing manager at Manheim Auction, then switched to the insurance industry as a property and casualty agent/broker specializing in general and transportation. Most recently, he worked at HCF Insurance in Woodland Hills, Calif., as a professional liability broker.

Seattle-based Physicians Insurance A Mutual Co. named Alison Talbot senior vice president of human resources and administration. She most recently was vice president, human resources at Safeco Insurance Co., where she was employed from 1986 to 2006.