People Moves: Alabama’s Palomar Names Smitherman CTO; IoA Adds Three

Alabama-based Palomar Insurance has named Justin Smitherman chief technology officer, charged with tech strategies and management, the company announced.

Smitherman started with Palomar in 2011 and was promoted to information technology director in 2013. Palomar, which writes commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, was founded in 1954 and has offices in Montgomery, Alabama, as well as Georgia and Tennessee.

IoA Names Three

Insurance Office of America has added three people to its franchised dealership program.

Chip Sellas previously owned an insurance agency and worked with one of the largest property and casualty insurers in the country, specializing in auto, truck, motorcycle, agriculture and heavy equipment dealerships.

Paul Elliott has two decades of experience in auto and truck rentals, dealerships and captives.

Mat Pope has represented franchised auto, truck and equipment dealerships and is a certified risk manager.

IoA, founded in 1988, said it is the fourth-largest privately held insurance brokerage in the country. It is headquartered in Longwood, Florida, and has 1,300 associates in 60 offices in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, the company said in a news release.