Risk & Insurance Online

Willis Group Holdings has announced the appointment of VINCENT D. LIOTTA as executive vice president and production director of the Willis Re U.S. specialty practice. Liotta, formerly senior vice president of global marine, energy and aviation for Arch Insurance Group (U.S.), will lead the effort to heighten Willis Re's profile in the specialty marketplace, and also create additional production synergies with the Willis Re U.S. property/casualty practice. Prior to joining Arch, he was managing director, marine, energy and aviation, at Guy Carpenter from 1998 to 2002.

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The PMA Insurance Group has announced that DENISE GRANLUN has been promoted to assistant vice president and assistant branch manager, Philadelphia. Granlun will assist with the management of PMA's Philadelphia office and will also retain her business development responsibilities for the Philadelphia area. Granlun, who joined the PMA Insurance Group in 2000, was previously manager, business development, for PMA's Philadelphia Branch.

GE Insurance Solutions has named MIKE FURLONG to lead its Lawyers Professional Liability unit. Furlong is a 10-year veteran of GE Insurance Solutions with a diverse background in claims leadership and Six Sigma quality. Previously, Furlong served as the medical liability practice claims leader.

The Ace Group of Companies has named BILL O'FARRELL chief reinsurance officer, in addition to his position of senior vice president of reinsurance recoverables. O'Farrell will be responsible for overseeing corporate reinsurance programs for the Ace Group. He will work with each of Ace's operating divisions worldwide in the design and purchase of reinsurance. Prior to joining Ace in 2003, O'Farrell worked for Berkshire Hathaway Group, where he was vice president and legal counsel for their reinsurance division.

NuQuest/Bridge Pointe has named GUS ORTIZ as national sales representative with Bridge Pointe, its national provider of professional administration services. In this role, he will work with clients in order to meet their postsettlement needs regarding Medicare secondary payer compliance. Ortiz joins Bridge Pointe with more than 19 years of professional experience in the workers' compensation and insurance industries.

Wausau Insurance Cos. has named MARK FIEBRINK president and chief operating officer. Most recently, Fiebrink worked in Boston as an executive vice president for Liberty Mutual Group's agency markets. Previously, Fiebrink worked for Wausau from 1973 to 1993.

Berkshire Life Insurance Co. of America has named JOAN BANCROFT as president. Bancroft joined the company in 1970 and most recently was senior vice president of information technology and claims. Bancroft, a 35-year insurance industry veteran, will oversee all aspects of Berkshire Life.

HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. has announced that BARRY J. COOK has been promoted to the new position of chief executive of all international operations, senior vice president of HCC and a member of the Executive Management Group. Cook has been chief executive of Rattner Mackenzie Ltd. for 14 years, including the past seven years since being acquired by HCC.

Strategic Risk Solutions, an independent captive management firm, has announced that WAYNE COWAN has joined SRS as director and vice chairman of SRS Cayman. Cowan, formerly the managing director of JLT Cayman, will be responsible for client development and ensuring that client service standards are maintained. Prior to leading JLT's Cayman operations, Cowan was the managing director of Johnson and Higgins and Marsh's operations in Cayman.

Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America has named FRANK TONNEMAKER president of its variable product division. Tonnemaker will be responsible for overall sales and profitability for the variable product line and will manage the in-force variable business, as well as helping to develop and design new products for Minneapolis-based Allianz Life. Most recently, Tonnemaker was with Crosswater Financial Corp., where he was managing director of business development.

Allianz Life has also named PATRICK FOLEY as chief marketing officer. Foley previously was president and chief operating officer of the company's fixed products division. His new responsibilities include increasing overall market share, product development and product wholesaling.

Ace Bermuda Insurance Ltd. has named ROBERT REBELLATO as senior vice president in its property division. Rebellato will be responsible for the management of Ace Bermuda's global property and first-party specialty lines business. Before joining Ace in 2002, Rebellato worked for XL Capital Ltd. Previously, he worked for FM Global and Industrial Risk Insurers.

Countrywide Insurance Group has named CORALEE TALMAGE senior vice president of its employee-benefits practice. Talmage's responsibilities will include developing and maintaining a national employee-benefits practice as a part of the company's strategy to expand its offerings in its commercial lines division.

Zurich has announced that DAN LORIS has joined the company's technical center as director of its property line of business. Loris, with nearly 20 years of property experience, joins Zurich from Allianz Global Risk, where he was assistant vice president of underwriting strategy. In his new role, Loris will work closely with the organization's property leaders to implement Zurich's North America commercial underwriting strategy.

--Compiled by staff from news and company releases.

January 1, 2006

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