People – Southeast
Former West Virginia Governor W. Gaston Caperton III has joined USI Insurance Services as a senior advisor to help the broker expand in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia.
The 32nd governor of West Virginia will also help integrate USI’s six locations in West Virginia, two in Kentucky and three in Virginia that were part of USI’s acquisition of 40 Wells Fargo Insurance brokerage locations across the United States that closed on May 3.
Caperton will be located in USI’s Charleston, West Virginia location.
Caperton brings decades of insurance experience to USI, having led the McDonough Caperton Insurance Group before winning the governor’s office in 1988 and 1992. After leaving office, he taught at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy’s School of Government and Columbia University. In 1999, he became president of the College Board, a position he held until 2012. Prior to joining USI, Caperton headed up Caperton Consulting, LLC for the past two years.
Wyatt Stewart has joined the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) Capitol Hill team as director of federal government affairs.
Stewart, a native of Washington, D.C., joins a bipartisan lobbying team primarily as a liaison to Republican congressional offices.
The position was previously held by Ryan Young who recently departed the agents’ association to serve as director of business development for Husky Rack & Wire in Denver, N.C., according to the announcement.
Stewart previously served as advisor for policy and coalitions for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). He worked for Cantor in various capacities since January 2009. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Stewart worked for the Republican Party of Virginia.
Privately-held insurance broker Lockton said that James R. Dickson III has joined its Nashville office as a vice president, client advisor, and business development executive in risk management and commercial insurance.
Dickson specializes in risk management strategy and business development for large and middle market companies in the healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and restaurant industries.
He brings 26 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on the placement of directors and officers liability insurance and errors and omissions coverage.
Dickson comes to Lockton from Willis of Tennessee Inc., where he worked as a senior vice president. Previously, he served as president and board member at Direct General Insurance Co. in Nashville.
Kathryn Powell has joined wholesale insurance broker, Risk Innovations, to lead its personal lines division. She is based in Atlanta.
Powell formerly was with Chubb Insurance in its personal lines enterprise and American Family Insurance. She has a proven track record of producing positive sales results, which are reflected in her Chubb National Salesperson of the Year award and Chubb’s Sales Circle of Excellence designation in 2013.
Risk Innovations is an independent wholesale broker focused on workers’ compensation and personal lines business with offices in Atlanta, Ga., Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, Ill.; and Kansas City, Mo.