Zurich North America Names PCI’s Manna as Head of Government Relations

Zurich North America has brought Deirdre Manna on board as the new head of Government and Industry Affairs.

Manna leads Zurich’s engagement with elected officials at the state and federal level on public policy issues that may impact the insurer’s business and customers. She reports to Dennis Kerrigan, chief legal officer for Zurich North America, and is based in Schaumburg, Ill.

Manna brings 20-plus years of experience in state and federal public policy. She joins Zurich from the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), where she served as Political Engagement and Regulatory Affairs vice president. She led PCI’s political engagement division and also managed regulatory and industry affairs throughout the country for the association. She first joined PCI in 2006.

She is a former state insurance regulator, having served as acting director of the Illinois Division of Insurance from 2003 to 2005. She also served as assistant vice president of the American Insurance Association (AIA) from 1996 to 2003 and as a government relations professional for a national law firm, Dykema Gossett.

The two property/casualty insurance carrier trade groups — PCI and AIA — announced last month they are discussing a possible merger.