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The Insurance Marketing and Communications Association (IMCA) named Richard Look as president. He is a marketing communications veteran with both agency and insurance company experience, and currently serves as vice president of marketing communications for Inventure Inc., a privately owned insurance services company based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Look has served as director of communications for Venture Insurance Programs and was vice president of brand marketing for Commonwealth Risk Services. On the agency side, he served as president of Jenkins Advertising, vice president and account supervisor of McAdams, Richman & Ong, and managed e-marketing initiatives through Kingswood Interactive.
Other appointed IMCA 2008/2009 officers and directors are:
IMCA also appointed three new board members: Zdenka Melnyk of Manitoba Public Insurance, Krista Winters of American Modern Insurance Group and Mark Friedlander of Main Street America Group.
The Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) honored Kevin M. LaCroix with its 2008 PLUS Founders Award and John J. Degnan, with its 2008 PLUS1 Award at the organization’s 21st Annual International Conference.
The Founders Award recognizes a member of PLUS who has made lasting and outstanding contributions to the Society. The Award is presented in honor of the spirit and dedication of PLUS Founder Angelo J. Gioia and other individuals who have contributed selflessly to create PLUS and establish it as the voice of the professional liability industry.
LaCroix is a partner in OakBridge Insurance Services, of Beachwood, Ohio, and an Insurance Journal columnist. OakBridge is an insurance intermediary focused exclusively on management liability issues. LcCroix has been involved in directors’ and officers’ liability insurance issues for more than 25 years.
The PLUS1 Award is presented to a person whose efforts have contributed substantially to the advancement and image of the professional liability industry.
Degnan, vice chairman and chief operating officer of The Chubb Corp., was named to his position in June 2008. He had served as chief administrative officer since 2002 and assumed the additional title of chief ethics and legal compliance officer in 2005. He has held various titles since joining Chubb & Son in 1990 as a senior vice president and general counsel. Currently, Degnan serves on the boards of the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.
Tom Hughston, executive vice president of North Texas-based Roach Howard Smith & Barton (RHSB), has been named to the board of directors of The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, a trade association representing domestic and international commercial insurance agents and brokers.
Hughston, whose insurance career spans more than 20 years, joined RHSB in 1991 as a principal and shareholder and was appointed to the board of directors in 1995. In addition to serving the needs of his clients, he oversees the sales and marketing efforts for the firm. Prior to joining RHSB, Hughston was an executive practice leader for Chubb Insurance.
Roger Morris has been named vice president and chief communications officer for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. He will be responsible for communications, public affairs, marketing and membership.
Morris is a veteran communications and marketing professional with experience in the insurance and public utilities industries and as a broadcast journalist. He previously served in executive positions at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, the Alliance of American Insurers and CNA Insurance. Most recently he has been a senior communications and marketing consultant for numerous insurance organizations and private companies.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink appointed Tallahassee attorney Sean Shaw as Florida’s insurance consumer advocate,.
Shaw is an associate at Messer, Caparello & Self P.A. and most recently ran for the Florida House of Representatives, District 8. Previously, he served as a litigation/appellate associate at Akerman Senterfitt Law Firm.
Sink also recognized Bob Milligan, who previously served as the insurance consumer advocate and this summer announced his retirement after serving as interim executive director of the State Board of Administration.
Zurich Financial Services promoted Mario Vitale to CEO of its Global Corporate business division. He replaces Geoff Riddell, who will assume additional responsibilities overseeing Zurich’s operations in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.
Vitale will also assume the newly created position of chairman of Global Corporate. He has served as deputy CEO of Global Corporate since July 1, 2008, in addition to serving as CEO of the Global Corporate division in North America division since 2006.
Vitale joined Zurich from Willis Group Holdings where he was CEO of Willis North America and a member of both Willis’ Group Executive Committee and the Office of the Chairman. The company said Vitale’s replacement will be announced at a later date.