People

Aon Corporation recently announced that Karen Reutter has joined Aon Construction Services Group in a newly created position of senior vice president. Based in Minneapolis, Reutter is one of a number of strategic hires employed by Aon Construction Services Group to develop innovative products and services and create unmatched teams, the Aon statement said.

Reutter has a long tenure in the construction insurance and risk management field, having started her career in Dallas working for IRMI. She developed significant expertise in casualty underwriting, product development and alternative risk financing during her years at St. Paul Construction and Zurich Construction. Prior to joining Aon, Karen was employed with Willis where she specialized in large accounts and national homebuilder

Grange Insurance added Michelle Benz as president of Grange Life Insurance Company. She replaces Tom Welch, previous president of Grange Life who was promoted to chief financial officer of Grange Insurance in April.

In this role, Benz will lead all Grange Life Insurance operations, including product development, marketing and sales. Grange Life Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Grange Mutual Casualty Company, is designed primarily to provide life insurance products through Grange Insurance’s independent agent partners.

Benz joins Grange after spending most of her career with Nationwide Financial, the last four years as vice president, business development, individual protection.

Dallas-based Colemont Insurance Brokers recently promoted Andrea Watkins to assistant vice president in the company’s Chicago office.

Watkins joined Colemont in 2004 as part of a casualty brokerage team. Previously, she spent two years as a marketing associate for a transportation insurance company. Transportation coverages Watkins can place include both primary and excess auto liability, general liability, cargo and physical damage. Her general casualty lines include primary and excess liability for products, contractors and other classes of business.

George Hockert has joined Wausau Signature Agency (WSA) as the director of sales in the agency’s Eagan, Minn., office, with responsibility for Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Wisconsin.

Hockert has more than 15 years of experience in sales and sales management, having worked in industrial sales before moving into insurance industry sales in 1997. Hockert’s insurance career has been in the Minnesota/Iowa territories and he started as a producer for a TPA.

The Insurance Institute of Indiana has promoted Jon Zarich to the position of director of government affairs. He was previously the government affairs coordinator.

Zarich is the association’s principal lobbyist for personal lines, tort and life issues. He oversees legislative voting records and the Insurance Fraud Seminar. He is also responsible for the Amicus Curiae, personal lines, life and health, and claims committees at the Insurance Institute.

Zarich joined the Insurance Institute in 2006 as the government affairs coordinator. Prior to joining the Institute, he served as a legislative assistant in the Indiana House of Representatives. Zarich also has experience as a claims representative for Progressive Insurance.

Willis Group Holdings, the global insurance broker, appointed Chris Lorsung as leader of the company’s Minneapolis commercial construction practice, effective immediately.

Lorsung will retain his title of senior vice president, Willis of Minnesota Inc. His responsibilities include leading a team of 46 professionals, and driving growth and profitability for the unit.

Lorsung succeeds Andy Mahoney, who will continue with Willis focusing on servicing existing clients and helping the leadership team to grow the practice via new business production.

Lorsung joined Willis in 1999 from The St. Paul Insurance Company where he held various underwriting and managerial roles within the insurer’s construction unit. He is the past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Subcontractor’s Association.

Brown Smith Wallace LLC recently added two new team members to the insurance and reinsurance services group: Nathan Carter and Nicole Galloway.

Carter joins Brown Smith Wallace as a staff accountant in the Insurance and Reinsurance Services Group. Carter will assist members of the department with a variety of special insurance tax related projects. Prior to joining Brown Smith Wallace, Carter served as an intern at Prime Inc. in Springfield, Mo., and as an intern at Brown Smith Wallace.

Galloway joins Brown Smith Wallace as a staff accountant in the Insurance and Reinsurance Services Group. Galloway will assist members of the department with a variety of special insurance audit related projects. Prior to joining Brown Smith Wallace, Galloway served as an actuarial analyst for Allstate Insurance Company and as an intern at Brown Smith Wallace.

Chicago-based Hub International Ltd. made several management changes to be effective October 1.

Dennis Pauls, currently CEO of Hub Ontario, will become CEO of Hub Midwest West (Chicago).

Bill Zanoni, currently CEO of Midwest West, will be the chair and chief marketing officer for Midwest West.

Topics Construction Aon Minnesota