People – west
Lou Savage, Oregon’s interim insurance commissioner for the past seven months, has been appointed to the position, replacing Teresa Miller, who left in November, 2011 to accept a position with the federal government.
Savage initially planned to return to his former DCBS position as the agency’s senior policy advisor. Savage directed DCBS legislative activities before taking on the role of interim insurance commissioner. Oregon’s insurance division employs 100 and has a $10.5 million annual budget.
An attorney, Savage worked for Multnomah County Legal Aid Services for more than 16 years, including eight years as executive director. He was also state director of former Congressman Ron Wyden’s state congressional office.
Menlo Park, Calif.-based McGraw Group of Affiliated Cos., which includes Pacific Specialty Insurance Company (PSIC), named Brian Cohen chief executive officer. Cohen’s appointment is effective immediately.
Cohen joins McGraw from Strategic Growth Advisors where he was president and CEO, serving companies in the technology, financial services and insurance industries. Prior to SGA, Cohen led the turnaround of global software company Clear Technology. He previously worked at Farmers Insurance as the senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
Los Angeles, Calif.-based Poms & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc. named Chris Poveromo branch manager and senior vice president of property/casualty.
Additionally, the firm named Mark Ulrich senior vice president of employee benefits and property/casualty and Evelyn Castellanos as account executive in employee benefits.
All three were added to the firm’s Los Angeles office.
Poveromo focuses on property/casualty lines on behalf of food manufacturers and distributors, restaurant chains, grocery stores, as well as trucking companies. He will also oversee the development of new business and manage the Los Angeles office staff.
Prior to joining Poms & Associates, Poveromo was a vice president with Andreini & Co.
Ulrich has more than 15 years’ experience in the insurance industry and specializes in employee benefits and property/casualty with a diverse client base. He was previously a vice president with Andreini & Co.
Castellanos has been in the insurance industry for 13 years with an emphasis in employee benefits. Castellanos will service new accounts and assist with business development. Castellanos was previously an account executive with Andreini & Co.
Poms & Associates deals in commercial insurance, employee benefits, corporate wellness, personal lines, and risk management and risk control. The firm has offices in California, Colorado, New Mexico and Washington.
San Diego, Calif.-based Atlas General Insurance Services LLC hired Kevin Rodgers as a senior underwriter.
Rodgers comes to Atlas with underwriting experience from various insurance companies while working in workers’ comp underwriting departments.
Prior to Atlas, he worked as a senior underwriter at Arrowhead General.
Atlas General Insurance Services is a full service general insurance agency focused on workers’ compensation.
Renton, Washington-based Bell-Anderson Agency Inc. named Dwight Newman director of marketing. Newman’s responsibilities will lie mainly with the insurance agency’s commercial division.
Newman has worked for years in the Pacific Northwest insurance community and has relationships with several insurance carriers.
Bell-Anderson has six offices across Washington.