People

Cincinnati, Ohio-based American Financial Group Inc. (AFG) hired Anthony W. Dunn as vice president, overseeing the internal audit function for the company and its subsidiaries.

Dunn has 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry. Prior to joining American Financial Group, he served as senior vice president and chief financial officer for Ohio National Financial Services, and prior to that, was Ohio National’s chief audit executive.

Before joining Ohio National, Dunn was a vice president for The Cincinnati Insurance Co. He began his career in public accounting.

Dunn holds the following credentials and designations: Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).

Managing general agency and surplus lines broker, J.M. Wilson promoted Josh Mauk to senior transportation underwriter in J.M. Wilson’s Carmel, Indiana, office.

He is responsible for underwriting new and renewal accounts for a wide variety of transportation risks, including trucking, non-trucking, business auto and public auto, as well as issuing policies and servicing accounts for independent insurance agents in Indiana. He previously served the company as a transportation underwriter.

Steve Francis has been promoted to transportation underwriter in J.M. Wilson’s Arlington Heights, Illinois, office. He is responsible for underwriting new and renewal business, corresponding with carrier underwriters, and assisting independent agents in Iowa, Illinois and Nebraska.

Francis previously was an assistant transportation underwriter. He joined the company in June, bringing four years of previous experience as a surety claims specialist and surety underwriter.

Alex Mikos has been hired as assistant transportation underwriter in Arlington Heights. Mikos is responsible for assisting underwriters on a wide variety of commercial transportation risks, as well as quoting new and renewal business, corresponding with carrier underwriters and assisting independent agents in Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska.

Emelia Tollison has been added as a transportation underwriter in Madison, Wisconsin. She is responsible for underwriting new and renewal business, as well as corresponding with carrier underwriters and assisting independent agents.

Prior to J.M. Wilson, Tollison was a personal auto liability claims adjuster for Esurance Insurance Co.

Landen VanSyckle has been hired as sales and agency relations specialist in Madison. He will be the primary resource and liaison for independent insurance agents in Wisconsin and Illinois by offering product knowledge and quality service, as well as building relationships with agency partners.

VanSyckle previously was an associate broker and commercial sales specialist with another MGA/Brokerage firm.

Aimee Henard joined the firm as a commercial bond underwriter in Carmel, Indiana. She is responsible for underwriting new and renewal commercial and fidelity bonds, as well as corresponding with carrier underwriters and assisting independent agents.

Henard previously worked at Liberty Mutual for 11 years, where she began as an insurance agent before becoming a surety underwriting assistant.

Henard is a notary and has earned AINS (Associate in General Insurance) and API (Associate in Personal Insurance designations and is in the process of attaining an AFSB (Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding) designation.

With offices in eight states, J.M. Wilson provides coverage for standard and hard-to-place commercial transportation, property/casualty, professional liability, garage, personal lines and surety in thirty-six states.

NAS Insurance named Jeff Jacobs to lead its Underwriting Operations. He is based in Chicago.

Jacobs previously worked to establish NAS insurance’ regional operations in Chicago, New York and Atlanta. This new role expands his responsibilities for the company.

NAS Insurance Services LLC, headquartered in California, is a full-service specialty insurance underwriting manager.

Madison, Wisconsin-based property/casualty insurer, Rural Mutual Insurance Co. (Rural), appointed Daniel J. Merk as its next executive vice president and CEO.

He will officially take over the positions upon the retirement of current executive VP and CEO Peter Pelizza in April 1, 2019.

Merk began his career at Rural in 2009 as vice president, Actuary and Product. In 2011, he was promoted to vice president and treasurer, responsible for all accounting, finance and actuarial functions. Merk was given the additional responsibility for the claims function in 2015 and underwriting in 2017.