People
Richard “Dick” Reynolds, former chairman and executive director of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission, was presented the Raymond Mauk Leadership Award at the Insurance Council of Texas’ 16th Annual Mid-Year Property and Casualty Symposium on July 17 in Austin.
Reynolds is the eleventh recipient of the award, which honors former Texas Fire Commissioner Raymond Mauk.
The ICT presents the award at the symposium each year. It is the Council’s highest honor and is intended to bestow recognition on those whose labor has made a significant difference in the business of insurance.
In April 1989, Governor Bill Clements appointed Reynolds to the three-member State Board of Insurance. He later was appointed to the National Council of Compensation Insurance, the Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association and the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission where he became chairman and executive director.
Reynolds also has served as a founding director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, mayor pro-tem and councilman for the city of Richardson and a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Reynolds also served as president of the Dallas Apartment Association, the Dallas Market Center Rotary Club, the Texas State Technical College, and as a member and later chairman of Parkland Hospital.
The Chubb Corp. named John J. Degnan vice chairman and chief operating officer. Degnan, a former attorney general of New Jersey who joined Chubb nearly 18 years ago, previously was vice chairman and chief administrative officer.
Paul J. Krump has been named executive vice president and chief underwriting officer, responsible for Chubb Commercial Insurance, Chubb Personal Insurance, Chubb Specialty Insurance and Surety. Krump, who joined Chubb 25 years ago, previously headed Chubb Commercial Insurance.
Harold L. Morrison Jr., a 23-year Chubb veteran, has been named executive vice president and chief global field officer, in charge of the company’s U.S. and international field operations, comprised of 120 offices in 28 countries. Morrison was previously in charge of U.S. field operations.
Dino E. Robusto has been named executive vice president and chief administrative officer, in charge of claims, information technology, human resources, communications, administrative services and external affairs. Robusto joined Chubb 21 years ago and most recently headed the company’s worldwide claims operations.
Houston-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LLP announced that Greg Howard has returned to the firm as Commercial Lines Marketing manager.
Howard has more than 15 years experience in the insurance field and has both the CPCU and ARM designations.
Dean & Draper Insurance Agency, recognized this year as a Best Practices Agency, provides both personal and commercial insurance with a strong market share in Houston and in other Texas locations, including Navasota, College Station, Montgomery, Sulphur Springs and Texarkana.
Barry E. Miles has joined insurance broker USI Southwest as senior vice president and Benefits Practice leader in Dallas.
Throughout his career as a benefits professional Miles has focused on delivering to clients a comprehensive scope of services, including defined cost control strategies, working with human resource professionals to reduce their administrative workload, and developing consistent communications strategies for effectively educating employees.
Delta General Agency Corp. promoted Roya Azari to Underwriting and Business Development manager, effective July 1.
Azari began her commercial insurance career at Delta as an assistant underwriter in 1984. Since then she has been underwriter, senior underwriter, team leader and supervisor.
Azari holds the CPCU, AU and AIS designations and has become an educational resource for Delta, teaching insurance classes to Delta employees.
Azari will celebrate 25 years of service with Delta in 2009, its 50th anniversary year, which President and CEO Bill Fink said is made more remarkable by the dedication of outstanding employees like Roya Azari.
Harleysville Insurance appointed Gilbert M. Benjamin regional president of its Southeast operation.
He will oversee the underwriting, agency management and support functions throughout the region — which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and includes the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Before joining Harleysville, Benjamin served as senior vice president at Wachovia Insurance Services in Atlanta. Prior to that, he was with Fireman’s Fund for seven years, most recently as senior vice president of the company’s Southern states territory. Previously, he was vice president of St. Paul’s Southeast region, and he began his insurance career with Allstate in 1985.
Dallas-based Colemont Insurance Brokers promoted Judd O’Neal to assistant vice president in Colemont’s Chicago office.
O’Neal joined Colemont in 2006 as a property broker after four years with a large Midwest retail agent as an account executive. He specializes in the placement of monoline property and inland marine risks.
Colemont also named Michael O’Brien and David Lewison vice presidents in its Hartford, Conn., office.