People

The Ohio Casualty Insurance Co. announced that Ralph S. Michael III, 50, has been named president and chief operating officer of the company, effective July 25, 2005. Michael comes to the Fairfield, Ohio-based company from U.S. Bank, National Association, where he was executive vice president and manager of private asset management. In addition, Michael currently serves as a director on the Ohio Casualty Corp. board of directors, a position he will resign effective July 25, 2005.

In addition to his most recent position with U.S. Bank, Michael also served with that organization as executive vice president and manager of West Commercial Banking and as president of U.S. Bank – Oregon. From 1979 to 2002, he held numerous executive and management positions with PNC Financial Services Group, based in Pittsburgh.

Colemont Insurance Brokers announced that Joseph Bielawski has been promoted to vice president of its Chicago office. Bielawski will continue to broker inland marine, ocean cargo, Hull/P&I and property coverages, specializing in trucking, contracting, lifting/rigging and warehousing risks. Bielawski joined Colemont in January 2001 after spending 22 years with Fireman’s Fund McGee Marine Underwriters (formerly Wm. H. McGee & Co.). There his duties ranged from a production underwriter in the Midwest territory to branch manager of the Boston and Chicago offices.

Colemont Insurance Brokers is ranked among the top five largest specialty insurance brokers on the United States. Founded in 1992, the company is now home to 400 insurance professionals in 15 offices across the country and placed $1 billion in gross premium in 2004.

Farmington Hills, Mich.-based wholesaler Burns & Wilcox has appointed Alicia Bailey as a commercial underwriter in the firm’s Chicago office. Bailey serves as liaison with Burns & Wilcox’s network of agents, quoting new business, retaining renewal business and marketing to agencies. With 19 years of retail agency experience, Bailey served as account executive with DS&P Insurance Services Inc. in Palatine, Ill., prior to joining Burns & Wilcox. Bailey currently resides in Streamwood, Ill. Burns & Wilcox of Chicago is located at 200 W. 22nd St., Suite 218, Lombard, Ill., 60148. Contact Bailey by phone at (630) 916-1863 or abailey@burnswilcox.com.

Sheboygan, Wis.-based regional property/casualty insurer ACUITY added Christina Hess to its staff as a commercial field underwriter for the insurer’s Michigan region. Prior to joining ACUITY, Hess worked for 11 years at Hastings Mutual Insurance Co. as a commercial lines supervisor.

Meanwhile, Dan Gluch joined the company as its newest sales territory manager. Gluch will handle the insurer’s northwestern Wisconsin territory. A native of Loyal, Wis., Gluch began his insurance career as a personal lines underwriter for economy fire and casualty. In 1992 he joined Maryland Cos. in Colorado as a senior personal lines underwriter and, in 1996, returned to Wisconsin as a territorial underwriter for Rural Mutual Insurance Co., handling commercial and farm underwriting.

ACUITY is a regional property/casualty insurer that currently operates in 13 Midwestern states, writes over $700 million in premium through 650 independent agencies, and enjoys over $1.5 billion in assets.

Brokers Financial Services, a division of USG Insurance Services, Inc., announced the appointment of Nancy Morrison as manager of premium financing at the Livonia, Mich., location. She will assist the agents and the insureds with premium financing options with exceptional expertise to meet all their financial needs and cash flow management.

Morrison brings more than 24 years of knowledge and experience of management in the insurance accounting and premium financing industries. Morrison can be reached at (248) 478-8723 or toll free at (800) 298 2138. Her e-mail address is nmorrison@brokfinsvc.com.

New York City-based Integro Ltd. today announced that Nancy Aque has been appointed managing director and head of the company’s Chicago office and Midwest hub. Aque has more than 35 years of brokerage experience, with special expertise in the healthcare, higher education and retail industries. She most recently served with Marsh as managing director, Central Midwestern zone leader, and head of the company’s Chicago office.

Bruce Slayter, the managing director of risk management services for Chicago-based broker Mesirow Financial has been named chair of the first loss control practice group for RiskProNet International Inc., a network of 28 leading independent brokers in the United States and Canada. Slayter joined Mesirow four years ago after working in the insurance industry for more than 20 years. At Mesirow he oversees risk management services, including loss prevention consulting for clients. RiskProNet International is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif.

USI Holdings Corp. appointed Mark Gardner to the newly created position of director of compliance. Gardner will lead the further design and implementation of a plan to solidify the company’s legal regulatory compliance program while further institutionalizing the company’s code of business conduct and the industry’s evolving business practice standards. Gardner joins the Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-based USI from General Star Indemnity Co., where he served as vice president and chief compliance officer. Prior to General Star, he served as deputy superintendent for the New York State Insurance Department.

To submit information for this department, e-mail:
koreilly@insurancejournal.com.

Topics USA Agencies Ohio Underwriting Casualty