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Brennan J. Paris has been named the new executive vice president of the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of Tennessee. He is the sixth executive leader in the history of the association. Prior to joining PIA, Paris represented Johnson & Johnson, Inc., an insurance managing general agency headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, as the Tennessee and North Georgia marketing representative. He has also worked for Frontline Homeowners Insurance based in Lake Mary, Florida, and Bristol West Insurance Group located in Davie, Florida. Paris replaces Jim Maden, who was named executive vice president in 1989.
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety announced a change of leadership with the elevation of Carl Hedde, senior vice president of Munich Reinsurance America Inc., from vice chairman to IBHS chairman. In addition, Mark Pizzi, president and chief operating officer, Nationwide Insurance, will become IBHS vice chairman.
Hedde succeeds Kevin Kelso, former chief marketing officer of Farmers Insurance. Pizzi, who as the Institute’s vice chairman will lead the organization’s executive committee, succeeds Hedde, who has served as IBHS vice chairman since January 2010.
Members of the IBHS board of directors are Edward Collins, vice president and assistant general counsel, Allstate Insurance Co.; Robert DiMuccio, president and chief executive officer, Amica Mutual Insurance Co.; J. Smith Harrison, Jr., secretary and executive director, South Carolina Wind & Hail Underwriting Association; Sue Johnson, senior vice president, General Re Corp.; Lawrence Lange, vice president and chief underwriting officer, Auto Club Insurance Association; Stephen McAnena, chief product officer, Liberty Mutual Group; David Meehan, president, Bankers Insurance Group; Kevin Nattrass, president and chief executive officer, Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group; Steven Peeters, senior vice president, Product Operations, Main Street America Group; Jeff Reinig, senior vice president, Home Product Management, Farmers Insurance Group; Jon Riekse, senior vice president, Personal Lines Underwriting, Auto-Owners Insurance Group; Julie Rochman, president and chief executive officer, Insurance Institutefor Business & Home Safety; James Salek, vice president, underwriting, USAA; Mark Silverman, vice president, MetLife Auto & Home; Erin Skala, ARe, president and chief operating officer, ACE Tempest Re; Timothy Smith, vice president underwriting, American Agricultural Insurance Co.; Don Soss, chief underwriting officer and vice president, Personal Insurance, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co.; Brian Suzuki, chief actuary, AAA Northern California Nevada Utah Insurance Exchange; Craig Tillman, president, WeatherPredict Consulting Inc., an affiliate of RenaissanceRe; Greg Toczydlowski, executive vice president, president of Personal Insurance, Travelers; Gary Vallo, chief executive officer, MiddleOak; Michael Zavasky, executive vice president, Insurance Operations, Erie Insurance; and Joe Zwettler, vice president of Brokerage and Alliances, American Family.
Paul Sipos has joined wholesaler All Risks, Ltd. in its expanded Orlando, Florida office as a casualty broker. Prior to joining All Risks, Sipos was with MacDuff Underwriters Inc. in Daytona Beach for nine years. He specializes in contractors and tough products accounts. All Risks, Ltd. is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced that Michael D. Riley will serve as acting state insurance commissioner effective July 1. Current Commissioner Jane L. Cline retired June 30 after 10 years in the post. Riley first joined the insurance commissioner’s office in October 2001 as an administrative services manager and rose to become assistant commissioner of regulation. During his tenure, Riley served as project manager for the privatization of the state’s workers’ compensation system.