People – Southeast
Florida Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet approved Bruce Meeks to fill the newly created post of inspector general for Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Gov. Scott described the inspector general position as “a stewardship role” that is a key part of recent legislation that reforms Citizens.
Meeks has been serving as a partner at the Tallahassee, Fla.-based law firm of Robert and Meeks. He was previously the inspector general for the State Board of Administration from 2002-2010. Meeks also served in the Florida attorney general’s office as the deputy executive attorney general from 1998-2002, and as personnel director for the office of attorney general from 1995-1998.
Marsh has named Robert Bentley as president of its U.S. and Canada Division, which comprises Marsh’s U.S. core brokerage, Canada, and insurance services businesses.
Bentley rejoined Marsh & McLennan in February 2013 following five years at Risk Management Solutions, where he served as chief operating officer and a board member. Prior to that, he spent 17 years at Guy Carpenter, where he held several executive positions, including global COO and head of Global Analytics. He most recently served as president and CEO of Marsh’s Insurance Services Businesses unit.
He reports to Peter Zaffino, president and CEO of Marsh.
USG Insurance Services Inc., a Tampa, Fla.-based national wholesale general agent, appointed Katie Nehls as producer/broker. She is based in Tampa. Nehls most recently held the position of underwriter and team lead at All Risks Ltd. Previous roles include underwriter/broker at Swett & Crawford, and both an underwriting and underwriting assistant role at Gary Markel Surplus Lines Brokerage.
ACE USA has appointed Carl Sutter as senior vice president, Distribution Management. Sutter will drive brokerage distribution strategies for all ACE operating units. Sutter is based in Philadelphia, and will report to Ed Zaccaria, Division president, regional operations.
Sutter brings 24 years of experience with ACE USA and its predecessor organization. He most recently served as senior vice president, National Corporate Risk Segment Leader for ACE USA regional operations, where he was responsible for ACE USA’s middle market sales.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty announced that Rebecca Matthews has been appointed chief of staff for the Office of Insurance Regulation.Matthews has been serving in the interim chief of staff capacity since Oct. 25, 2013, when then-chief of staff Audrey Brown left the post to become the new chief executive officer of the Florida Association of Health Plans.
Matthews joined the OIR in 2008. During her tenure, Matthews’ primary areas of oversight have included government affairs initiatives; market research and technology; and agency administration and operations.
Prior to joining the OIR, Matthews served as legislative affairs director for both the Florida Department of Management Services and the Florida Lottery. She also served as vice president of communications at the Florida Bankers Association.
McCarty also named Monte Stevens as deputy chief of staff with a primary focus on government affairs.
Stevens previously led government affairs efforts for the OIR from 2007 to 2012. Most recently, Stevens served as the director of government affairs at the Florida Medical Association. He also worked as a senior legislative analyst in the Florida House of Representatives Majority Office and as deputy director of legislative affairs at the Florida Department of Financial Services and Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.
Swett & Crawford announced two appointments for its program administrator brand Southern Hospitality Underwriters.
Vishal Patel is joining Southern Hospitality Underwriters as vice president. Previously, he served as vice president at Motel Insurance Brokers, a nationwide commercial insurance program administrator based in Florida. Patel’s focus will continue to be package coverage for limited service hotel/motel insureds and retail agents.
Additionally, Swett & Crawford appointed Bryan Mallory as underwriting account manager for Southern Hospitality. Mallory also comes from Motel Insurance Brokers, where he served as account manager.
Both will continue to operate in Orlando, Fla.
W. R. Berkley Corp. has named Gerald B. Bushey as president of its subsidiary, Carolina Casualty Insurance Group. Bushey succeeds Douglas J. Powers, who is retiring.
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Carolina Casualty serves the commercial transportation industry.
Bushey has 40 years of experience in insurance and has been Carolina Casualty’s vice president of underwriting since 2009. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in many facets of transportation insurance at national carriers.