People

The Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America named Deirdre Manna, former acting director of the Illinois Division of Insurance, vice president of industry and regulatory affairs. Manna will help coordinate policy matters related to regulatory issues and lead the association’s activities with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Conference of Insurance Legislators and American Legislative Exchange Council.

Prior to joining PCI, Manna served as a government relations professional for Dykema Gossett PLLC in Chicago. As acting director of the Illinois Division of Insurance, Manna was responsible for regulating the state’s insurance industry’s market behavior and financial solvency.

The American Institute of Marine Underwriters elected Richard J. Decker, president of AIG Global Marine, as chairman. He succeeds Robert V. Huffert, senior vice president and manager of the ocean marine department and a vice president of Munich Reinsurance America (formerly American Re-Insurance Co.).

Decker becomes the 48th chairman since AIMU was established in 1898. AIMU provides educational programs to its members, serves as an advocate before international, federal and state governments, and acts as an information center for the U.S. ocean marine insurance industry.

Willis Group Holdings appointed Lloyd Esler energy practice leader in North America. Located in Houston, his focus will be to coordinate Willis’ energy operations in Houston, Calgary and New York, and to promote organic business development across the continent. For the past two years, Esler has been managing partner for Willis’ Houston operation.

The Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association announced its new officers and directors. Newly elected officers include President Catherine Kalaydjian, who is executive vice president and head of claims for Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd.; Vice President Walter O’Grady Jr., senior vice president of claims, GMAC Re; Treasurer Kurt Steinhauer, vice president of claims, General Reinsurance Corp.; and Secretary Sandra Van Enk, vice president, The Toa Reinsurance Company of America.

Irvine, Calif.-based CorVel, a provider of managed care services in the workers’ compensation, accident and health and auto insurance markets, named Edwin C. Hendrick vice president of sales, responsible for national sales. Prior to joining CorVel, Hendrick served as vice president of sales and marketing for USLABS/Esoterix, managing nationwide sales development. Hendrick also previously held positions at Ventana Medical Systems and Abbott Diagnostics.

Juli Wall has joined Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. as senior vice president and chief employee services officer. Wall will be responsible for improving the overall employee experience, performance culture and workplace environment. Areas of responsibility include human resources, training and development, event planning, facilities management and the company’s employee councils.

Previously, Wall served as vice president of Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America, based in Minneapolis. Her background includes management roles in marketing and communications, audit and compliance.

Capax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes appointed Barbara Galgiani president of Capax-Marine Providers Inc. The Marine Providers subsidiary is a marine insurance specialty of Capax, the Modesto, Calif.-based regional insurance agency.

Galgiani has served as business advisor and resident vice president since joining Capax-Giddings, Corby, Hynes in 1996. She brought her 18-year marine insurance background to GCH, establishing the marine unit.

Monarch E&S Insurance Services of La Crescenta, Calif., appointed Wayne E. Bernstein director of professional lines. He will head the company’s Executive Liability and Professional Liability division. Bernstein formerly was a managing director with Executive Perils Inc. of Los Angeles.

The van Aartrijk Group LLC, a Washington, D.C.-area marketing and communications firm, is augmenting its branding and public affairs capabilities with the promotion of one executive and addition of another.

Maureen P. Wall, who has 20 years of senior-level branding, publishing and corporate communications experience, was promoted to vice president, and she will lead Aartrijk’s branding activities. Jeffrey A. Myers, senior associate, joined the firm to spearhead its public affairs efforts. He brings to the firm 21 years of branding, public affairs and media relations success.

Renee S. Lerche was appointed vice president of human resources and communications at Farmington Hills, Mich.-based H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, parent company to national specialty insurance wholesaler, underwriter and managing general agent Burns & Wilcox.

Lerche was most recently with Sedona Consulting Group as a principal partner. Previously, she served as a senior human resource executive at Ford Motor Co., where she was responsible for global education, training and development; workforce planning and workforce development; and corporate human resource strategy.

The Los Angeles Chapter of the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society installed Eunice Downing as 2006-2007 president and elected new officers and directors. She is with Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Management.

Other new officers are President Elect George Wallace, Wallace & Schwartz; Vice President Terri Ulbricht, Marsh Risk & Insurance Services; Secretary Reiner Braun, Marsh Risk & Insurance Services; Treasurer Wes Kwon, ISU-UNI Insurance Services; and Immediate Past President Rod Simonds.

New Directors are Gene Calahan, CIBA Insurance Services; John Chesebrough, Chesebrough Associates; Fabiola Irias, THB Intermediaries; Mary King, Keenan & Associates; Tessa Lucero, Marsh Risk & Insurance Services; Robert Rosenfeld, Variance Management; Paul Wagner, Gen Re; Joe Wetter, Wetter Insurance & Risk Management Consulting; and Robert Wilson, Aon Risk Services.

Topics Excess Surplus Reinsurance Training Development