People

Chicago-based commercial insurer, CNA, has appointed Al Miralles as chief risk officer (CRO), effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Miralles joined CNA in 2011 as senior vice president and treasurer and has been leading the Long-Term Care business since 2014. He will retain strategic oversight of Long-Term Care.

This appointment follows the resignation of Mark Verheyen, senior vice president and chief risk officer, who is leaving CNA at the end of the year.

Church Mutual Insurance Co. has promoted Kevin Root to executive vice president – operations.

In his new role, Root will provide direction for the company and position Church Mutual and its family of companies for continued success and expansion into new markets and segments.

Root joined Church Mutual in September 2012 as vice president and chief financial officer and was promoted to senior vice president of operations in January 2016.

He is a member of the board of directors for CM Vantage Specialty Insurance Company, CM Regent Insurance Company and CM CARES, the Church Mutual Insurance Company foundation.

Church Mutual, founded in 1897, offers specialized insurance for religious organizations of all denominations, as well as schools, camps, denominational offices and senior living facilities.

Lora Autullo has been named an employee benefits unit manager in Lockton’s St. Louis, Mo., office.

Autulo joined Lockton more than 12 years ago. Prior to becoming unit manager, Autullo served associates and clients as an account executive and team lead. She was the primary point of contact for clients, managing their strategic planning and assisting with their day-to-day needs while leading a small group of associates.

In her new role as unit manager, Autullo will lead associates in client support while assisting in the strategic planning for the development of the St. Louis series.

Prior to joining Lockton in 2005, Autullo gained extensive employee benefits knowledge while working for Mercer as a benefits consultant.

Indianapolis-based MJ Insurance has appointed Chris Novotney director of business development in the Personal Insurance department.

Novotney will be responsible for developing strategic sales and marketing initiatives in the newly created role at MJ Insurance.

Bringing more than 10 years of experience in the insurance industry to MJ, Novotney recently served as director of business development at Hays & Sons Construction of Indianapolis, where he led the business development team in seven markets throughout Indiana and Ohio, resulting in record growth for the company.

MJ Insurance is a commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits consulting agency that, since 1964, has grown from a two-person start-up to an agency with more than 140 employees in both Phoenix and Indianapolis.

H.W. Kaufman Group and Burns & Wilcox promoted six insurance industry veterans the Midwest region.

The Midwest promotions were among 22 nationwide promotions announced during the 2017 Kaufman Leadership Meeting. They include:

Taylor J. Smith was promoted from director, Corporate Development, to associate vice president, Corporate Development, at H.W. Kaufman Group in Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Rebecca L. Roberts was promoted from managing director to associate vice president and managing director at Burns & Wilcox in Indianapolis.

Bryant Steele was promoted from manager, Commercial Insurance, to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox in Chicago, Ill., and Milwaukee, Wis.

Adrian Smith was promoted from senior broker to associate managing director at Burns & Wilcox Brokerage in Chicago.

Kelly E. Viviano was promoted from senior manager, Marketing, to director, Corporate Communications, Marketing, at H.W. Kaufman Group in Detroit/Farmington Hills.

Michael J. Muglia was promoted from senior underwriter, Professional Liability, to underwriting manager, Professional Liability, Center of Excellence, at Burns & Wilcox in Detroit/Farmington Hills.

Brandon R. Hunter was promoted from senior underwriter, Commercial Insurance, to underwriting manager, Commercial Insurance, at Burns & Wilcox in Indianapolis.

Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Metro Detroit, H.W. Kaufman Financial Group includes: Burns & Wilcox Brokerage; Burns & Wilcox Canada; Burns & Wilcox Re; Atain Insurance Companies; Afirm; Global Excess Partners; R.B. Jones; Royal Premium; Minuteman Adjusters; and London-based Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick and Cranbrook Underwriting.