F. Michael Crowley has been appointed executive vice president and national director for property casualty by the board of directors of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. (HRH), an insurance brokerage company servicing middle market and risk management lines. Most recently, Crowley was vice chairman of Savannah, Ga.-based Palmer & Cay Inc., a large privately-owned broker. He began his career in 1974 with Johnson & Higgins, serving in several senior management positions, including senior vice president in charge of Virginia operations.
Sergio Gonzales has been elected president of the 600-member Professional Insurance Agents of Florida (PIA) in Tallahassee. Gonzales is president and owner of SG & Associates Insurance Brokers in Miami. For two years he served as PIA’s vice president and president-elect, and co-chair of PIA’s Legislative Committee. In September 2003 Gonzales received the PIA President’s Award.
He has 40 years of insurance industry service, including experience with the Florida Department of Revenue and the Sadu Insurance Agency. Gonzales established SG & Associates in 1983. He has been a member of the Latin American Insurance Agents, PIA of South Florida, and the National Association of Life Underwriters.
Bo Walker has been named president of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC). Walker, of Walker Robinson Clark in Statesville, was elected to the office during the annual IIANC Annual Convention in Asheville.
Walker most recently served as the president-elect of the association. He was on numerous association committees and has been heavily involved in the North Carolina PAC. Walker is a native of Statesville, N.C.
IIANC also announced its Executive Committee election results: Bill Bingham, The Lake Agency, Cornelius, president-elect; Kathy Lance, The L.N. Davis Company, Waynesville, vice president; Cleve Folger, TriSure Corporation, Cary, secretary/treasurer; Don Evans, Coastal Insurance, Shallotte, past president; and Joe Kluttz, Albemarle Insurance Agency, Albemarle, state national director. New directors include Charlie Hoover, Moore & Johnson Agency, Raleigh; and Bobby Salmon, BB&T/Asura, Research Triangle Park.
Jeffrey Myers, a 15-year industry communications veteran with extensive experience at the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and in the industry, has been named the new executive director of Trusted Choice. Myers will manage day-to-day operations of Trusted Choice, including strategic planning and implementation; agent and consumer marketing; agent, broker and carrier recruitment; advertising programs; Trusted Choice Web site resources; and public relations.
Myers most recently was vice president of communications with management responsibility for the Big “I’s” member, consumer and media communications programs. He previously managed public affairs communications, helping establish the Big “I” as a key source for business and insurance media on legislative and regulatory issues. Prior to joining the Big “I” in 1989, Myers was a public relations specialist with the U.S. Army stationed in Washington, D.C.
John R. Braddy has been presented the 2004 Hayne P. Glover, Jr. Agent of the Year award by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina (IIABSC). Francis C. Johnson was also honored as IIABSC’s Industry Person of the Year for 2004. Braddy is vice president and agency manager of Braddy Insurance Inc. in Dillon; Johnson is president of Johnson & Johnson Inc. Managers in Charleston. Ashley Brady received the 2004 American Association of Managing General Agents Achievement Award. Brady is C/C of First Charter Company in Marion. IIABSC, South Carolina’s oldest and largest association of property and casualty insurance agents, has approximately 360 insurance agencies and branch offices on its roster.
Mark O’Connell, executive vice president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida (PIA) recently accepted three Zenith Awards from the Tallahassee Society of Association Exectutives (TSAE). PIA competed with more than 100 other TSAE members for the awards, it was unprecedented for any contestant to receive three awards. PIA received two Honorary Mentions for its Web site www.piafl.org and e-newsletter Time Capsule, on market and member news; and a First Place award for Vigil, an e-newsletter on legislative and regulatory issues. O’Connell attributed the success to Mary Frederick, PIA’s director of communications, who helped PIA position itself on the leading edge of the electronic age. PIA represents insurance agents with legislative advocacy; quality education programs; timely, unbiased information, and discounted member services to help insurance agents compete successfully.
Itzick Sharir, CEO of Sapiens International Corp. N.V. announced the appointment of Steven Bessellieu as Sapiens president. Bessellieu recently served as president of Sherwood International, a provider of enterprise solutions for the insurance industry. Previously he was senior vice president and member of the Global Financial Services Executive Board at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, New York. Bessellieu’s expertise in the insurance industry was developed in industry and consulting positions with the Alpha Insurance Company, Deloitte & Touche and Unisys.
In a related announcement Rob White-Cooper will head Sapiens international advisory board. White-Cooper is a former director of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. Prior to his election in 1988, he was chief executive officer of Sedgwick Group plc., which merged with Marsh & McLennan. He is a past president of the Insurance Institute in London. He has experience in all sectors of insurance, Property, Casualty and Reinsurance, Life and Pensions.
Other members of the advisory board are: Kaj Ahlmann, former chairman and CEO of GE ERC; Rudolf Kellenberger, deputy CEO and a member of the executive board committee of Swiss Re; Robert Mendelsohn, former group CEO for Royal & Sun Alliance. Bob Scott, former group CEO of CGNU (today AVIVA).
Topics Florida
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