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Scott A. Adamsons joined InsurBanc as vice president of sales and business development. The Farmington, Conn.-based company also hired Marie R. Rider to be vice president and director of marketing. Adamsons will direct the sales and business development efforts, focusing on independent agencies throughout New England. Ride will direct strategic marketing including advertising initiatives, public relations and sales support efforts.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. selected Juan C. Andrade to be executive vice president and head of the Property and Casualty Operations’ claims organization. Andrade, who is the deputy head of claims, assumes responsibility for the group’s operations and more than 5,000 employees. He replaces Calvin Hudson, who is retiring after a 33-year career with The Hartford.

Brian Dowd, chairman and CEO of ACE USA and chairman of ACE Westchester Specialty, was appointed CEO of the company’s Insurance – North American operating division. John Lupica, president and chief operating officer of ACE USA, also was promoted to CEO, ACE USA.

The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers elected new directors, including Robert L. Cohen, chairman and CEO of The IMA Financial Group Inc., in Denver, Colo.; M. Steven DeCarlo, president and CEO of American Wholesale Insurance Group of Charlotte, N.C.; and Jim W. Henderson, president and chief operating officer of Brown & Brown Inc., in Daytona Beach, Fla.

William J. Owen, senior vice president and CFO of Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Zenith National Insurance Corp., is retiring. Kari L. Van Gundy, who will rejoin Zenith on July 5 as senior vice president, finance, succeeds Owen as CFO. Van Gundy was previously employed by Zenith from 1988 to 2002.

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Cos., promoted Bob Gallozzi to senior vice president, Commercial Marine, part of ACE USA’s International and Specialty Group. Based in New York City, Gallozzi will direct national profit center strategies, operations and risk control services for marine cargo, hull and liability product lines for ACE USA Commercial Marine.

PMA Insurance Group promoted Elaine Manchon to assistant vice president for commercial markets underwriting. Manchon will join PMA in the Blue Bell, Pa., office and will be responsible for commercial markets operations, which focuses on mid-size employers. For eight years, Manchon has been the underwriting manager for PMA’s Philadelphia office, the company’s largest branch office.

The Progressive Corp. appointed John A. Barbagallo president of the company’s Drive Group and also announced that the president of its Direct Group is leaving the company. Barbagallo, who joined the company more than 20 years ago as a claims representative, serves as the Drive Atlantic Region general manager. He replaces Robert T. Williams, who resigned effective May 17.

Also, Alan R. Bauer, president of the company’s Direct Group of Insurance Co.’s since 2002, is leaving the company. Bauer joined Progressive in 1979. Brian A. Silva, general manager of the company’s commercial auto group, was promoted to commercial group president.

Benfield, an independent reinsurance and risk intermediary, has expanded its professional liability practice with the addition of William J. Henriques and Andrew Bernstein. Both are based in Benfield’s New York office. Henriques was named leader of the Professional Liability specialty team. Bernstein was named to the Professional Liability specialty team as a senior vice president specializing in alternative risk transfer products.

Red Bank, N.J.-based Investors Underwriting Managers Inc., a subsidiary of the Markel Corp., appointed Robert W. Blazer III to the newly-created position of vice president and chief administrative officer. He will oversee all administrative functions to include the claims, finance, information technology and reinsurance divisions.

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, promoted Joseph Sherry to senior vice president for global property, part of ACE USA’s International & Specialty Group. He will be based in Philadelphia and will be responsible for directing operations and strategy for the Global Property and Engineering Services product lines.

Rex D. Frazier was elected president of the Personal Insurance Federation of California. He has served as vice president and general counsel since April, 2005. He replaces Dan Dunmoyer, former PIFC president, who left to become deputy chief of staff for policy development for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Aon Construction Services Group has added several professionals to its San Jose, Calif., offices. Milena Mikin joined the firm as a marketing specialist; and David Salley and Karen Smith joined the firm as relationship managers.

Mikin has experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, marine and energy, power and utility, and telecommunication fields. Salley will focus on newly acquired accounts, and Smith will be responsible for servicing accounts involving large developers and general contractors.

Joseph Gonzalez was promoted to Fresno, Calif., district office manager for State Compensation Insurance Fund. Gonzalez began his State Fund career in 1977, when he was hired as an auditor for the organization’s Woodland Hills, Calif., district office.

Heritage General Agency, Los Angeles, hired Sonja Bartmas as senior underwriter/broker, responsible for the production of surplus lines business both open brokerage and managing general agent. Her duties will include development, underwriting and growth of commercial business, marketing and new agency appointments while maintaining a favorable loss ratio.

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