People – South Central

Stacey Miller Lemons has joined Dallas-based insurance broker MHBT Inc. as a commercial property/casualty account executive.

Lemons, who is based in Lubbock, Texas, has more than 25 years of risk management and insurance experience. Previously, she worked at Roach Howard Smith & Barton as vice president of risk services, production design and administration. During her 10 years at RHS&B, she developed new policies and procedures within the risk services department and created optimum practices for internal claim processes. Lemons also implemented the rollout of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Healthcare Network enrollment for multiple clients.

Lemons will focus on West Texas business, but will provide statewide support, serving both clients and producers as a risk management resource.

Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax was elected chairman of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission (IIPRC) in Phoenix, Ariz.

Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jacqueline K. Cunningham was elected as vice chair and Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner Angela Weyne was elected treasurer.

The Interstate Insurance Compact (Compact) is an initiative that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the way insurance products are filed, reviewed, and approved allowing consumers to have faster access to competitive insurance products in an ever-changing global marketplace.

The Compact established the IIPRC, a public entity which includes representatives from 44 U.S. jurisdictions.

Texas-based Mullis Newby Hurst LP, which specializes in construction insurance and surety bonds in the Southwest, has hired Doug Reed as an account executive.

Previously Reed was director of business development for Chem Can Services LLC and a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual Ð Dallas.

Mullis Newby Hurst is located in Addison.

Ohio-based State Auto Financial Corporation and State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (State Auto Mutual) hired Michael E. LaRocco as president and chief executive officer.

LaRocco officially takes over the duties of current President and CEO Robert P. Restrepo Jr. on May 8. Until that time Restrepo will work closely with LaRocco during the transition.

Restrepo will remain as chairman of the companies until his retirement on Dec. 31.

During LaRocco’s more than 35 years in the property and casualty insurance industry, he’s led large national carriers and formed a technology startup. His insurance career began with management and executive roles at Progressive and GEICO. He also has served as president and chief operating officer at Safeco Insurance Companies, and president and CEO of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.

LaRocco most recently served as president and CEO of AssureStart, a Seattle-based technology startup selling general liability and property insurance to small businesses online.

State Auto Financial Corporation is a super regional property and casualty insurance holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Kansas-based IMA Financial Group Inc. appointed Jeff Grace as president of Signature Select LLC. Grace is president of IMA Inc. Wichita, a post he will keep.

Grace has almost 20 years of insurance experience in varied underwriting, sales and leadership roles. He joined IMA in 1997 in business development, and holds the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding designations.

Signature Select is a subsidiary of The IMA Financial Group Inc. and offers a full range of risk management-related products with more than 50 associates in Colorado, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.

Signature Select was founded in 2009 to focus specifically on personal lines and the insurance needs for small business.

AmWINS Group Inc. appointed David Scruggs as chief executive officer of AmWINS Specialty Auto (ASA), based in Richardson, Texas. Scruggs previously served as president of ASA.

In his new role, Scruggs will be responsible for all day-to-day leadership and operations of AmWINS Specialty Auto, which specializes in the non-standard personal automobile insurance market, and Oakwood Software Insurance Solutions, which provides industry-specific software to insurance companies, MGAs and large agency groups.

Scruggs succeeds Jim S. Whited, who has served as CEO since 1990.

Whited founded ASA, formerly American Southwest Insurance Managers, in 1990 and built it into one of the largest independent managing general agents for non-standard personal automobile insurance in Texas.

Whited will continue to serve as chairman of ASA.