People

Giddings, Texas-based independent insurance agency, Insurance Network of Texas, announced that agency founder R.J. Nitsche passed his responsibilities as CEO to his son, Robert.

Robert Nitsche most recently served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer. However, having grown up in his father’s insurance agency, he has held numerous titles and positions through out his career, including janitor, mail room clerk, accounting department manager and computer system department manager.

Robert Nitsche has a BBA from the Baylor Hankamer School of Business and an MBA from SMU. In 2010, he graduated from the distinguished Owner/President Management Program at Harvard University.

R.J. Nitsche will continue to serve as chairman, agency mentor and dedicated producer.

Since its founding in 1949, Insurance Network of Texas has been an independently owned business, guided by its culture, hometown hospitality and family values.

Marsh Inc. appointed David Bidmead to the newly created role of CEO of Marsh U.S. In this capacity, Bidmead will guide Marsh’s U.S. retail brokerage operations. He will report to Joe McSweeny, president of Marsh U.S./Canada, who will continue to lead Marsh’s other divisional business segments.

Bidmead is currently leader of the Marsh U.S. West Zone and was previously CEO of Marsh Australia and region head of Marsh Pacific.

Marsh also is realigning its zonal structure in the U.S. — going from four zones to three. The offices of its South Zone will be integrated into its East and Central Zones.

Kris Davis, currently Southwest partnership leader in the West Zone, will succeed Bidmead as the West Zone leader; Greg Stanbury will lead the newly expanded Central Zone and Bill Lyon the newly expanded East Zone. Justin Walsleben, currently South Zone Leader, will join the U.S. management team.

Jennifer McPhillips was promoted to senior director of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and will serve as a Democrat lobbyist on the group’s bipartisan Capitol Hill team.

McPhillips previously served as senior director of political affairs in charge of the group’s grassroots program. She also assisted in managing the Big “I” political action committee, InsurPac.

She first joined the Big “I” team in 2006 after working for Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa).

Pronto Insurance Agency, a Brownsville, Texas-based provider of auto and homeowners insurance, hired Sidney Williams as its new franchise director.

Williams has nearly 20 years of experience with retail and franchise businesses. He will head Pronto Insurance Agency’s franchise division, which currently has 23 franchise store locations serving customers in Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, San Antonio, El Paso and Houston.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry reappointed Carlos Garcia of Brownsville and Kenneth Ross of Houston to the state Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2017.

Garcia is chief of police for the city of Brownsville Police Department. He is a member of the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association and FBI National Academy Graduates of Texas.

Ross is an insurance agent with State Farm Insurance. He is a board member of Sam Houston State University (SHSU), and a life member and director of the SHSU Alumni Association. He is also a member of 100 Black Men of America Inc. and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.

These appointments are subject to senate confirmation.