People – South Central
The board of directors of the Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) announced that David VanDelinder, president and executive director, is retiring from the association effective Dec. 31. VanDelinder has been with IIAT for 32 years. He took over the leadership position upon the retirement of his predecessor, Ernie Stromberger, after previously serving as assistant executive director and director of education.
Regarding VanDelinder’s retirement, IIAT Chairman Pat Arthur stated in the anPatnouncement released by the association: “Every member of IIAT knows what a tremendous Executive Director/President David has been. He is a gifted speaker, moderator and leader who has worked to keep IIAT’s reputation strong and respected. David was the architect of our educational resources and training, and he saw the need to increase our involvement in the legislative process both at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C.”
Three previous volunteer leaders of the association – Robert Hempkins of Denison, Don Whitaker of San Antonio and Frank Swingle of Dallas – have been charged with finding an individual to fill VanDelinder’s leadership position.
VanDelinder recently was honored with State Auto Insurance Co.’s Distinguished Service Award. The presentation by State Auto CEO Bob Restrepo and Western Region President Gerald Ladner was made on Aug. 19 at State Auto’s Western Region headquarters in Austin.
The award recognized VanDelinder for “his outstanding contributions to the Texas insurance marketplace, and for serving the public good by working with independent agents, regulators, lawmakers and carrier partners for a more competitive and transparent operating environment.”
The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) announced that Amanda Miller of New Braunfels has joined the association as governmental affairs manager and PAC coordinator.
Miller has participated in a number of political campaigns both on the state and federal level, and worked during the 83rd Texas legislative session with the Beatty Bangle Strama law firm.
Miller is a member of an insurance family. Her father, State Representative Doug Miller, and her brother, Douglas, own Miller & Miller Insurance Agency in New Braunfels and are active members of IIAT.
Miller is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science in leadership studies and minors in communications and geography. She was also named a Dr. Joe Townsend Leadership Fellow while at A&M.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) appointed Chris Davis as associate commissioner of the agency’s fraud unit.
Davis is a licensed Texas attorney and peace officer. He was previously employed as a managing associate at the Kroll Security Group. Prior to Kroll, Davis served as the associate commissioner of TDI’s fraud unit. In 2009, Davis was the director of the Enforcement and Legal Division at the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). He has also worked as a supervisor special agent with the FBI.
The TDI Fraud Unit is part of the Agency’s Compliance Division which also includes Consumer Protection, and Enforcement.
National wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent, Worldwide Facilities Inc., announced that Rick Burns has joined its Houston office as senior vice president and product development officer. Worldwide’s Houston office primarily serves the energy and marine markets.
Burns spent the past 23 years with Global Special Risks in Houston where he served as president and subsequently as chief underwriting officer. He began his career as an underwriter with AIG and later with Underwriters Indemnity.
XL Group’s North America distribution and network team added Michael Kretiv as vice president and client distribution leader. Based in XL’s Dallas office, Kretiv reports to Wayne Speeg, XL Group’s regional leader – South Central.
Kretiv joins XL Group from AIG where he most recently served as regional casualty manager and previously as senior business development manager. Prior to AIG, Kretiv held various business development, client executive and underwriting positions at Liberty Mutual, Zurich North America, Lockton and Marsh.
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions named Robley Moor head of casualty North America. With this appointment, Moor becomes managing director.
He succeeds Daniel Vetter, who was promoted to global head of casualty in the Products & Global Markets unit of Corporate Solutions.
Moor will lead the Casualty North America underwriting team, responsible for operations in the U.S. and Canada. He reports to Robert Petrilli, head of North America. Moor joined Swiss Re in New York in 2001. In 2007, he was promoted to senior vice president and has led the Central U.S. regional casualty team in Chicago since that time.