People

Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. named Andrea James vice president, national sales leader. She will lead the National Broker team. This role establishes engagement and relationships at multiple levels, driving accountability and alignment between Fireman’s Fund and brokers.

James joined Fireman’s Fund 18 months ago as the vice president of sales operations. Prior to this she served as change management executive for Bank of America.

William Mudge, president and CEO of CompWest Insurance Co., was elected chairman of the board of directors of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute for 2011. Tom Rowe, president of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, will serve as the Institute’s vice-chair.

Outgoing chairman T. Hale Johnston of Employers Compensation Insurance Co., former chairmen Joseph M. Treacy of The Hartford Insurance Group and Roger L. Moseley of Alaska National Insurance Co., as well as Dennis C. Alumbaugh of Chartis Insurance and John Dickey of Liberty Mutual Group, will serve as officers on the Institute’s Executive Committee.

Also elected to CWCI’s 2011 board were Richard C. Zolty of ACE USA; Matthew L. Sather of CNA; Robert L. King of Fireman’s Fund; Rosemary Favier of Preferred Employers Insurance Co.; Richard W. Seelinger of SeaBright Insurance Co.; Joseph A. Ney of Springfield Insurance Co.; Vernon Steiner of Zenith Insurance Co.; and Jeffrey Jensen of Zurich North America.

The Obama administration named Illinois state insurance regulator Michael McRaith to head the new Federal Insurance Office set up under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street and financial industry reforms to monitor insurers, but not to regulate them. The FIO will operate from within the U.S. Department of Treasury and will advise Congress on insurance issues, help lead U.S. efforts on international insurance issues, and advise various federal entities on insurers’ systemic risk exposure. The new insurance office will not have regulatory power. Insurance regulation will remain at the state level, for now.

McRaith brings a wealth of industry experience to the new federal post having served as the director of insurance for Illinois and in various capacities in connection with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. He also worked for 15 years in private practice as an attorney in Chicago, representing financial institutions, including insurers, before being named Illinois’ insurance regulator.

Professional Program Insurance Brokerage in Novato Calif., added Lisa Martone to its underwriting staff. Martone will be a senior underwriter to grow the program business, including the new artisan contractor program, long term and home health care business, weight loss program and expanded teaching categories.

Martone started her insurance career working for an independent agency. In the ’90s Martone moved into commercial underwriting in the wholesale excess and surplus lines business. She joins the company with more than 14 years commercial lines experience specializing in general liability, professional liability and property.

Crouse and Associates Insurance Services added Frank Cardoso to its production team as a senior property and casualty broker in the company’s Fresno, Calif., office. Cardoso recently worked in the Fresno office of American E&S, and with Network E&S prior to that.

R-T Specialty LLC hired Michele Booth as an inside broker for the company’s La Jolla, Calif., office. Booth will work directly with Eileen Jolly on professional and executive liability placements. She brings more than 10 years of commercial insurance experience with an emphasis on directors and officers liability and professional lines.