Michael Robinson has been named vice president and zone manager of ACE USA Professional Risk’s, Southeast Region, a division of the ACE Group of Companies. Robinson will work with brokers and clients in the southeast in distribution, sales and marketing of management, and professional liability products, including directors and officers, errors and omissions and financial institutions.
Robinson joins ACE USA from St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co., where he held senior leadership roles in underwriting and regional operations in commercial, specialty and personal product lines, most recently serving as regional executive in the southern region. Robinson has held senior roles at Alexander & Alexander, Johnson & Higgins and the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.
G. Frank Sheppard has been named president of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina. Sheppard assumes the leadership role from Leland C. Ruef, president, who retired Dec. 31.
Sheppard will be responsible for management issues within the association. He has more than 25 years of insurance industry experience and joined S.C. Big “I” in 1992 as director of membership services. He has overseen member benefits and services, association for-profit activities, communications, events and membership development. In 2003, Sheppard was named executive vice president.
Before joining S.C. Big “I”, Sheppard was a producer with the Goldsmith-Theodore Agency in Columbia, S.C.; a broker with Marsh & McLennan Co. in Washington, D.C.; and an adjuster with Nationwide Insurance Co. in Columbia and Greenville, S.C. He is a native of Laurens, S.C.
Ruef is retiring from the S.C. Big “I” after more than 16 years as the chief executive officer of the association. He will continue to serve the S.C. Big “I” on a part-time basis as director of state government relations.
Ed Langston, Donald McMahon and Phil Zelman have been honored with awards recognizing their achievements and service to the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida.
Langston received the President’s Award from Mark O’Connell, PIA of Florida CEO, to honor and recognize him for serving on the PIA board and volunteer committees.
Langston founded the Langston Insurance Agency, with offices in Casselberry and Kissimmee, Fla. He has more than 25 years’ experience in the insurance industry, most notably in non-standard auto, preferred auto, commercial accounts, annuities and homeowner coverages. He has been a member of PIA since 1995 and a board member since 1996. He served as PIA president from 1999 to 2001, is now active on PIA’s legislative committee and chairs its budget committee.
McMahon, received an award as Agent of the Year, the group’s highest honor. The award is based on professional competence, high ethical standards and overall contribution to the industry. McMahon also becomes Florida’s nominee for PIA’s National Agent of the Year Award.
He owns McMahon-Hadder Insurance Inc., with offices in Pensacola and Destin/Fort Walton.
Zelman, vice president and co-owner of NCF Insurance Associates in Coral Gables, was awarded PIA’s Leadership Award. The award recognizes a committee chair for contributions to the insurance community. Zelman chairs PIA’s budget committee and was recognized for furthering the successes of PIA with strong financial oversight.
Jeff LeGare, senior vice president of John B. Collins Associates Inc.of Minneapolis, Minn. will manager a new Tampa, Fla. office to be opened by the company on Jan. 1. Collins is a reinsurance intermediary.
LeGare’s will serve clients in the Gulf Coast states to meet their reinsurance needs and challenges. The office will specialize in property catastrophe reinsurance, professional liability and workers’ compensation. He expects the local presence to help to leverage the firm’s expertise in a growing and dynamic marketplace. The office is at 2202 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa.
Jacksonville, Fla.-based FPIC Insurance Group Inc. has named Charles Divita III chief financial officer, effective Jan. 1.
Divita is FPIC’s senior vice president, operations and strategy. He has been with the company since 2000, previously serving as vice president, finance and then as president and chief executive officer of Employers Mutual Inc., a subsidiary. Employers Mutual, sold earlier this year, is a third party health benefits administrator.
Divita replaces Kim D. Thorpe, who leaves to pursue other interests. Since November 1999, Thorpe has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of FPIC. Thorpe will remain through March 31 to assist in the transition of his duties and with year-end reporting activities.
FPIC provides medical professional liability insurance for physicians, dentists and other healthcare providers.
Safeco announced that Paula Rosput Reynolds has been named the company’s new president and chief executive officer effective Jan. 1, 2006. Reynolds also was appointed to Safeco’s board of directors.
Reynolds currently is chairman, president and chief executive officer of AGL Resources, an Atlanta-based energy holding company that includes six natural gas utility companies, wholesale services and energy investments. Her 27 years in the energy business included positions in Houston and San Francisco.
Mike McGavick, who has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate representing the state of Washington, stepped down as CEO and chairman of the board on Dec. 31, 2005. He will provide transition services for two months as a Safeco employee.
Safeco’s board of directors also has elected Joseph “Jay” Brown as its non-executive chairman effective Jan. 1, replacing McGavick. Brown has been a Safeco director since 2001. He is chairman of MBIA Inc., a financial services company based in Armonk, N.Y. Before joining MBIA, Brown was chairman of Talegen Holdings Inc., the former insurance holdings operation of Xerox Corporation, and president and CEO of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.
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