People – Southeast
Starr Companies said it has appointed Eleanor Kitzman as vice president of Starr Insurance Holdings Inc. Kitzman will have regulatory, management and operational responsibilities across the company’s domestic and international businesses, according to the announcement.
Kitzman has 25 years of experience in both the insurance industry and regulatory community. Most recently, she was the Texas insurance commissioner, and previously served as executive director of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board and director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance. She has also held management positions in the property/casualty insurance and reinsurance industry.
Kitzman was the founder of South Carolina-based Driver’s Choice Insurance Services, a specialty automobile insurer in 1999. She later sold the company.
She served as South Carolina’s insurance regulator from 2005 to 2007, when she resigned over a difference of opinion with then-Gov. Mark Sanford over coastal insurance. In 2010, she ran for lieutenant governor in South Carolina but lost in the Republican primary.
In 2011, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley chose Kitzman to be director of the South Carolina agency that oversees much of state government budget and operations. Kitzman resigned that post after six months to take a role in government in her home state of Texas.
In July, 2011, between legislative sessions, Texas Gov. Rick Perry appointed Kitzman to a two-year term as insurance commissioner between legislative sessions. The appointment, which was opposed by some Democrats, was never confirmed by the Senate, so her term as commissioner ended at the end of the 2013 regular session on May 27.
Shelley Bolduc has been appointed assistant agency manager for commercial lines at BB&T-Oswald Trippe and Co. in Fort Myers, Florida.
With six years of industry experience, Bolduc will manage the daily supervision of commercial lines support staff, including training, performance, planning, directing, compliance, policy and procedures.
BB&T-Oswald Trippe has offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Holmes Beach, Miami, Naples, Ocala and Weston.
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has named Debbie Walker as director of captive insurance for the state.
As head of the insurance department’s new captive insurance section, Walker will be responsible for analyzing captive insurance license applications and overseeing the regulation of licensed captive insurers in the state.
Walker, a certified public accountant, has worked in financial regulation at the insurance department for more than 20 years and was named chief financial analyst in 2006. Prior to working for the department, she held various accounting roles in the private insurance industry.
“It is my goal and the department’s goal to make North Carolina a respected and leading captive domicile,” Walker said.
North Carolina became a domicile for captive insurance companies in late October 2013 with the enactment of the North Carolina Captive Insurance Act.
The North Carolina Department of Insurance licensed its first four captive insurance companies in December 2013.
Willis North America, the North American retail brokerage business of Willis Group Holdings and the company’s largest business segment, has revised its organizational structure and made a series of related senior appointments. The appointments, all of whom report to Todd Jones, CEO, WNA, include the following:
Eric Hein has been appointed national partner of the South Region. He will be responsible for the region’s business operations, which includes 500 associates in 15 offices throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and the Carolinas. Hein joined Willis in 1985. Since 1999 he served as managing partner of Willis’ North and South Carolina operations. He is based in Charlotte, N.C.
KJ Wagner has been appointed national partner of the West Region. He will be responsible for the region’s business operations, including 675 associates in 10 offices throughout Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Wagner joined Willis in 1999 and most recently served as managing partner, Willis of Arizona, since 2008. He is based in Scottsdale.
David Fuhrman has been appointed national partner of the new California Region, with 365 associates throughout offices in Los Angeles, Irvine, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. Fuhrman joined Willis in 2005 and previously served as managing partner, Willis of Los Angeles. He is based in Los Angeles.
The company said Hein, Wagner and Fuhrman will work with the existing regional leadership team of national partners including Joe Gunn, Northeast Region; Doug Pera, Atlantic Region; Mike Liss, Midwest Region and Rick Hynes, Canada.
Willis also announced several additional appointments:
Paty Daves has been appointed managing partner, Willis of Illinois. In this role, he will oversee business operations in Willis’ Chicago, Schaumburg and Moline offices.
John Sherlock has been appointed managing partner, Willis of Pennsylvania. He will oversee operations in Willis’ Philadelphia and Radnor offices.