Business Moves

Wells Fargo, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation launched a new Western Division. Wells Fargo Insurance Services will serve as the founder of the new division.

The Western Division will involve: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

“The launch of the Western Division will further the national growth of the industry foundation and provide opportunities to engage new leadership from across the insurance industry,” said David Zuercher chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation is also celebrating its 15th anniversary and recently honored Brian O’Hara, chairman of XL Capital Ltd., at its annual dinner.

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, founded in California in 1994, seeks to help communities and enrich lives by combining the collective strengths of the industry to provide grants, volunteer service and leadership. For information, visit www.iicf.org.

Jenkins Athens Insurance, Jenkins Insurance Group

Concord, Calif.-based Jenkins Athens Insurance Services repositioned its brand, renaming the company and consolidating all of its services under the new name Jenkins Insurance Group.

The new brand and logo emphasizes the importance of the company’s independent legacy and its role as part of northern California communities for more than 70 years, according to CEO Curt Perata, the first non-family member to lead the firm.

The consolidated brand will be introduced immediately for the company’s property and casualty insurance services. The benefits division, branded as Athens Benefits in the 1980s as part of a company expansion, will likewise operate with the Jenkins name beginning in early 2009.

Jenkins Insurance Group is an insurance broker providing risk management, property and casualty insurance, and employee benefits throughout northern California. The Jenkins insurance companies have operated in the Bay Area since 1937. The company has offices in Palo Alto and Sacramento.

Zurich

Zurich’s North American commercial business divisions have opened a new office in downtown Los Angeles at 700 South Flower Street. William Blake, regional executive for Zurich’s Southwest region, said the decision to open an additional regional office there was driven by the company’s commitment to being highly accessible to agents and brokers and ultimately, to be able to better deliver to customers more effectively.

Topics California