People

Swiss Re appointed Walter A. Bell chairman of Swiss Re America Holding Corp.

Bell, whose appointment with Swiss Re is effective Sept. 2, is currently insurance commissioner of the Alabama Department of Insurance, a position he has held since 2003.

Bell will provide supervisory governance of the Americas businesses for Swiss Re, reporting directly to Swiss Re CEO Jacques Aigrain. He will also oversee and direct regulatory and public affairs for all of Swiss Re’s North America businesses, helping provide state and federal legislators, regulators and others with the insights they need for effective policy-making.

The Hanover Insurance Group Inc. named Gary Y. Kusumi president of the company’s personal lines business.

Kusumi will oversee the Worcester, Massachusetts-based company’s personal lines operations, including products, pricing, service and underwriting strategies. Kusumi will work out of The Hanover’s headquarters and will serve as a member of the company’s executive leadership team.

Kusumi comes to The Hanover from GMAC Insurance, where he served as president and chief executive officer of personal lines business. Previously, Kusumi served as president and chief executive officer of the Windsor Group, and president of Leader National Group-personal lines companies of Great American Insurance Group, in Cincinnati. Prior to that, Kusumi served in various management roles for Progressive Cos., in Cleveland. He is also the past chairman of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and served on the safety advisory committee for the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Narragansett Bay Insurance Co. in Pawtucket, R.I. has named Debra Hemingway Provolo assistant controller.

Provolo worked previously as an assistant controller at Citizens Communications Co. She has 17 years of financial accounting management experience. Blackstone Financial Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the holding company for Narragansett Bay and Pawtucket Insurance Co.

Joe Hudgins, formerly vice president of Underwriting for ALFA Alliance Insurance Co., will join the staff of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia as the association’s new vice president of Industry Relations.

Hudgins, with over 38 years of industry experience, will assist the association with its corporate communications program, industry and community public relations efforts and will mentor new agencies as they attempt to get established. A long time instructor for IIAV, Hudgins will expand the classes he teaches and will become registered as a lobbyist and assist in legislative representation.

Manhasset, New York-based program manager NIF Group Inc. promoted Nancy G. Williams to vice president of marketing and sales.

In this expanded role, Williams will work with senior staff in the implementation and execution of the company’s brokerage operation sales initiatives. Williams will continue to manage the group’s marketing operations for programs and brokerage and the development of new clients around the country. She joined NIF Group as director of marketing in 2002.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. appointed Vanessa A. Wittman executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Wittman will join MMC on Sept. 10 and assume CFO duties by Oct.15. She succeeds Matthew B. Bartley, who in June announced plans to leave the company.

Wittman most recently served as CFO and executive vice president of Adelphia Communications Corp., which she joined in 2003. At Adelphia, she served on an executive team that navigated one of the most complex bankruptcy cases in U.S. history. Prior to Adelphia, Wittman served as CFO of 360networks, based in Seattle. She also has held positions with Microsoft, Metricom Inc. and Morgan Stanley.

Lockton Connecticut has named Orlando Rodriquez vice president and unit manager for its commercial insurance team.

Rodriguez brings 14 years of experience providing risk management to a diverse range of industries. He will manage a unit composed of commercial accounts based throughout the Northeast.

Prior to joining Lockton, Rodriguez was a senior vice president at Marsh USA Inc., where he oversaw the marketing, negotiating and servicing of large national accounts.

Aon Corp. named Richard Resnick regional director of wrap-ups for Aon Construction Services Group.

In his new position, Resnick provide oversight, direction and strategic leadership to Aon’s wrap-up clients. Resnick has supported the construction industry for 35 years and specializes in the development, design and servicing of wrap-ups, or insurance controlled programs.

Most recently, Resnick was employed by Willis Construction where he served as the regional wrap-up practice leader. Prior to this role, he was director of Tanenbaum-Harber’s wrap-up group. He has also held positions with The Allied Group and Johnson & Higgins.

Westbrook, Connecticut-based Maritime General Agency hired Sylvia Beckerman as chief operating officer.

Beckerman’s responsibilities include daily oversight of all operational segments including underwriting, broker services, processing, carrier relations and technology.

She joins MGA with 20 years of insurance industry management experience. Prior to joining MGA, Sylvia served as senior operations manager and vice president for Mercator Risk Services Ltd. She also served as chief operating officer and vice president of AWUL.

Topics Agencies Swiss Re