People

Matthew J. Nielsen has joined the Founders Insurance Co. of Des Plaines, Ill., as commercial claims manager, a newly created management role.

Nielsen’s will supervise a unit of claims analysts, providing guidance and direction in working with commercial policyholders to resolve liability claims against their businesses.

Nielsen brings to the position extensive experience in the legal and insurance industries. He served as an associate, senior associate and then partner with respected insurance coverage law firms. He later worked in the excess casualty unit of Zurich Insurance Co. before joining Founders.

LIG Marine Managers announced that Richard C. Zolty has joined LIG as senior consultant and longshore insurance development director. Zolty has 40 years of underwriting experience in workers’ compensation and longshore insurance. He has held management positions with various insurance companies, including ACE USA.

LIG Marine Managers provides markets for commercial marine and longshore insurance to independent agencies.

Privately held independent insurance agency, MJ Insurance, has added four employees in Indiana.

Recent additions include Lauran Reynolds as bond representative, Heather Brenan as commercial lines assistant, Kasen Bartels as marketing coordinator and Bre’Auna McCurdy as employee benefits administrative assistant.

Reynolds brings more than two years of industry experience to MJ Insurance. Prior to joining MJ Insurance, Reynolds worked with Indiana University Health Hospitals’ ProCare Network.

Brenan joins MJ’s Indianapolis team as a commercial lines assistant. Prior to joining MJ Insurance, Brenan worked with VF Events & Talent Inc.

Bartels brings more than six years of experience to MJ’s marketing team. Prior to MJ, Bartels worked as an emerging benefits consultant and analyst. She is also working to become a certified self-funding specialist.

McCurdy is a recent graduate of Indiana State University bringing years of administrative and human resource experience to her new position at MJ.

Chicago-based CNA Select Risk, which includes excess and surplus (E&S) business, as well as wholesale property accounts, appointed Rich Bladek as assistant vice president of Select Risk — Casualty.

Bladek will be responsible for creating new strategies to drive profitable growth within the unit’s central region.

Bladek brings to CNA 12 years of insurance industry experience in commercial and personal lines, including extensive casualty underwriting experience. He most recently served as an underwriting manager in the commercial casualty division of Chartis.

The marine insurance unit at XL Group plc has added Michael Perrotti as senior vice president, marine field operations. He is based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Perrotti joins XL from Zurich North America. With close to two decades’ experience, he has held home office and field management marine underwriting positions with The Hartford Insurance Group, Travelers and the Atlantic Mutual Companies.

The Illinois Council of the International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP), formerly known as NAIW, has installed new officers.

They are: Council Director Elect Penny Irwin with Horace Mann in Springfield; Membership Chair Viola Lashley with AAA in Addison; Publicity Chair Cathy Hall with the Forest Agency in Forest Park; Delegate to Region V Nominating Committee Susan Stone-Janczewski with Mercury Insurance Group in Vernon Hills; and Alternate to Region V Nominating Committee Deborah Marquardt with Horace Mann in Springfield.