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The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina elected Neil T. Annas as the association’s new president for the 2008 to 2009 term. Annas, president of Granite Insurance Agency Inc. in Granite Falls, N.C., was elected during the 111th IIANC Annual Convention in October. A member of the IIANC board of directors since 1999, Annas has held the positions of director, secretary/treasurer, vice president and president elect.

In addition to Annas, the IIANC Executive Committee was elected as follows:

• President-Elect: Charlotte Hicks, Glasgow Hicks Co., Wilmington.
• Vice President: Jackie Ireland Jr., Ireland & Marshall Inc., Raleigh.
• Secretary/Treasurer: Timothy B. Templeton, Senn Dunn, Greensboro.
• National Director: Don Evans, Coastal Insurance, Shallotte.

The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina also announced its 2008 industry award winners during the 111th IIANC Annual Convention.

The 2008 Agent of the Year is J. Rives “Judge” Manning Jr., LUTCF of McCoy-Hackney Insurance Agency in Roanoke Rapids, NC.

Curt Wohlers won the 2008 Company Professional of the Year award for the outstanding support he and his company have shown to IIANC during the past year. Wohlers is the Associate Vice President of Sales for Allied Insurance in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

The 2008 Ernest F. Young Education Award was presented to Robert “Bob” Betters of Watson Insurance Agency in Gastonia, NC.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Joseph E. Johnson, professor emeritus of UNC-Greensboro. Johnson was honored for his many contributions to insurance education throughout his career.

John McBride has been appointed legislative affairs director for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. McBride comes to the Office of Insurance Regulation from his most recent position as chief performance officer at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

McBride learned the legislative process while serving as a founder of LobbyTools, an online legislative information and news clipping service based in Tallahassee, Fla. In 2004, McBride joined DBPR where he served as a legislative specialist researching and developing legislative strategies.

The Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association (ESLCA) has announced its new slate of officers and directors. Newly elected officers are:

• President – Sandra Van Enk, vice president, The Toa Reinsurance Co. of America
• Vice President – Miles Banks, executive director – Group Claims, Willis Ltd.
• Treasurer – Bruce Carlino, chief claims officer, QBE Specialty Group and QBE Reinsurance Corp.
• Secretary – Stuart Willoughby, Claims Director, Markel International Insurance Co. Ltd.
• Immediate Past President
• Kurt Steinhauer, Vice President of Claims, General Reinsurance Corp.

New members joining the ESCLA board of directors are:

• Robert Dudzik, vice president, Arch Insurance Group
• Ed Quinn, chief operating officer, Rockville Risk Management Associates
• Terry Tuttle, vice president, Reinsurance Solutions

Additional directors currently serving on the board include:

• Eric Herstine, assistant vice president of Reinsurance Claims, Lexington Insurance Co.
• Kevin Shea, senior vice president, Direct Claims, Berkley Insurance Co./Signet Star Re
• Susan Wain, senior vice president, Claims, Scottsdale Insurance Co.
• Peter Fennell, senior vice president, Aon Re, Inc.
• Joachim Krane, chief claims officer, Continental Europe and Asia, XL Insurance

John R. Benedetto has been named president of BerkleyPro, the New York-based professional liability unit of W.R. Berkley Corp. Benedetto has 19 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries. He previously served in senior positions with a major insurer.

Steven P. Walsh has been appointed executive vice president of BerkleyPro. Walsh has 14 years of related experience in the insurance industry.

Paul Brophy has been named BerkleyPro’s senior vice president. He has over 15 years of insurance experience in both underwriting and management roles.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. appointed Darryl Page president for the Personal Insurance division, and appointed Greg Meyer senior vice president, product management for the Personal Insurance division.

Page joins Fireman’s Fund from Allstate Insurance Co. He has 27 years of insurance experience, including roles in underwriting, sales and operations, and experience working directly with independent agents in several regions throughout the United States. He most recently served as vice president, western market operating committee.

Meyer joins Fireman’s Fund from Zurich Insurance, where was senior vice president overseeing small business and commercial automobile programs. Prior to Zurich, he worked for Allstate and Progressive.

Topics Agencies Legislation Reinsurance North Carolina