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Donald D. Larson has been named president and chief operating officer of the Great American Property and Casualty Group and Great American Insurance Co.

Larson is the 16th president in Great American’s history. He assumes the title from Carl H. Lindner III, who has held the position of president for the past 23 years. Lindner will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of the Great American Property and Casualty Group and Great American Insurance Co.

Larson has served as executive vice president for the Great American Property and Casualty Insurance Group since 1999 and currently serves as a member of Great American’s board of directors, as well as the board of directors of National Interstate Corp., a 53 percent-owned subsidiary of Great American Insurance Co.

He joined Great American’s parent company, American Financial Group, in 1973 as a member of AFG’s finance department.

Ronald J. Brichler was promoted to executive vice president of the Great American Property and Casualty Group and the Great American Insurance Co. Brichler most recently served as senior vice president of Great American Insurance Co. and currently serves as a member of Great American’s board of directors.

He began his career with AFG in 1976 in its finance department.

Gary J. Gruber was promoted to executive vice president of the Great American Property and Casualty Group and the Great American Insurance Co. Gruber most recently served as senior vice president of Great American’s Property and Casualty Group and serves as a member of Great American’s board of directors as well as the board of directors of National Interstate.

Gruber started his career with Great American in 1977.

All three executives continue to be based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Ohio-based Hylant Group hired industry veteran Scott Dillabaugh as senior vice president and employee benefits sales leader for its Cleveland, Ohio, office. In this role, he will be part of the employee benefits practice, a member of the local management team and responsible for growth initiatives, client executive mentoring and professional recruiting.

Prior to joining Hylant, Dillabaugh was the national group benefits sales director at M&T Insurance Agency in Buffalo, N.Y. He was also a managing partner at Palmer & Cay/Wachovia Insurance and office sales leader at Marsh & McLennan in Columbus, Ohio.

Hylant Group also hired employee benefits industry expert Gates Ryan as client executive in its Chicago office. In this role, he will provide strategic consultation regarding all aspects of health and wellness benefits for individuals and employers.

Prior to joining Hylant, Ryan was president of The L&R Group in Western Springs, Ill.

Hylant’s Employee Benefits Practice focuses on healthcare planning, consumerism, contribution and health-management strategies.

Hastings Mutual Insurance Co., a 125-year-old regional property and casualty insurance organization headquartered in Hastings, Mich., has added Iowa as its sixth state for writing farm, commercial and personal insurance products exclusively through independent agency partnerships.

Vallery Jameson was named territory manager for Iowa. Jameson has 14 years of insurance experience with an agricultural and commercial lines focus.

The company said it plans to develop additional staff in Iowa to ensure quality services and customer satisfaction.

David H. Long was named president of Liberty Mutual Group effective July 1. Long, who has been with Liberty Mutual for 25 years, is currently executive vice president, Liberty Mutual Group, and president of Liberty International. Long will continue to lead Liberty Mutual’s International business unit while assuming responsibilities as president of Liberty Mutual Group.

Edmund F. Kelly will continue in his role as Liberty Mutual Group’s chairman and chief executive officer but will relinquish his role as president.