People – Midwest

Marc S. Byrnes, chairman and chief executive officer of Cleveland, Ohio,-based Oswald Companies, will transition his role as CEO to Robert (Bob) J. Klonk on Jan. 1, 2013. Klonk is a 17-year veteran of the firm.

David C. Jacobs remains president and chief operating officer and Joseph G. DuBois remains chief financial officer.

Byrnes will remain active, full time, as chairman of the board, advisor to the executive team, continue to lead the firm in both civic and charitable community-based activities, and serve as ongoing advisor to many commercial accounts.

With more than 30 years of experience, Klonk serves on the board of Assurex Global and the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB). He also co-chairs the CIAB political action committee and will serve as chairman of the Council of Employee Benefits Executives for 2012-1013.

Jacobs, an experienced insurance executive for more than 20 years, joined Oswald Companies in 2000. DuBois joined Oswald Companies in 2008, following a distinguished career with Nationwide Insurance.

Brian McPherson joined Chicago-based The Horton Group as a sales consultant. McPherson has extensive experience in a variety of industries, small and large, local and global, which makes him a perfect fit for this essential role at The Horton Group, the company’s announcement said. The Horton Group has offices in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Integro Insurance Brokers hired Miranda Fabian as vice president, Management Risk, in the firm’s Chicago office. She specializes in directors and officers liability, employment practice liability, fiduciary, crime, privacy liability and errors and omissions risks.

Fabian joins Integro from Arthur J. Gallagher. She is a member of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society.

Grange Insurance, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, has promoted Ken Lin to vice president and chief actuary. He replaces Curt Parker, who will remain senior advisor to the president and CEO until he retires in February 2013.

Lin brings 15 years of actuarial experience to the position, with seven of those at Grange. He also held a series of actuarial positions at CNA and Fireman’s Fund. Lin is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) has installed David Allen Walker, president of Hartland Insurance Agency in Hartland, Mich., as the association’s vice chairman.

Walker began his insurance career in 1979 as an agent with Guarantee Mutual Life Insurance Co. In 1981, he joined Hartland Insurance Agency as a producer, rose through the ranks and currently is a principal and serves as president of the agency.

Throughout his career, Walker has been an active association leader at the state and national levels.

Insurance broker IMA Inc. promoted Craig Schumacher, Tim Smith and Russ Winn in its Wichita, Kan., office.

Schumacher is now director of client services, where he focuses on alternative energy, program practice areas, and building new business. He joined IMA in 1998 as an account executive and team leader, and has more than 34 years of insurance industry experience.

Smith is the new team leader for the hospitality practice. He joined IMA in 2010 as an account executive and has more than 21 years of industry experience.

Winn is team leader for the newly formed energy practice, which resulted when his oil and gas unit merged with the alternative energy unit that was previously led by Schumacher. Winn joined IMA in 1993 and brings more than 28 years of industry experience and knowledge to the IMA energy practice.