People

Portland, Ore.-based Durham and Bates Agencies Inc. selected William D. Hurst as CEO and president. Hurst, an internationally known marine insurance broker, and leader of Durham and Bates’ Marine Practice for 25 years, assumed the role previously held by Richard L. Seekins.

Hurst has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. He began his insurance career in 1978 in London, returning to Oregon to join Durham and Bates in 1979. He has managed the Marine Practice since 1985 and has served as a director since 1987. He will become the fifth CEO of Durham and Bates, following the footsteps of his father, James D. Hurst, who led the company from 1963 to 1989.

Seekins, who ascended to chairman in January 2011, became CEO in 1989 and has been credited with having led the firm to be recognized as a top Oregon company and a fixture among the Northwest business community.

Insurance broker Marsh named Jill Sulkes head of its U.S. financial institutions practice.

Sulkes, based in New York, most recently served as a managing director in Marsh’s financial and professional liability practice, where she specialized in directors’ and officers’, errors and omissions, employment practices and fiduciary liability insurance for financial institutions. She has also been involved in new product analysis, business development, and professional development and training of Marsh colleagues.

The Denver office of Lockton Companies LLC, a privately held independent insurance brokerage, expanded its team of sales executives with the addition of Sara Scott.

Scott brings to Lockton nearly 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. She spent seven years with UnitedHealthcare as senior vice president of sales for specialty products in key accounts. Prior to her tenure with UnitedHealthcare, she served as a senior sales representative with UNUM.

Most recently, Scott served as the vice president of national accounts at Prospx, a technology firm focused on the commercial insurance industry.

Gallagher Benefit Services of Washington added David S. Rowe to its retirement services consulting practice. Rowe brings more than 20 years of retirement consulting experience, having worked in numerous management and sales positions in the industry. In his role as regional consultant, retirement services, he will grow the Gallagher Washington employee benefits consulting practice.

Rowe is president of the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries Benefits Council of the Great Northwest. Prior to working with Gallagher, Rowe was vice president, managing director with Prudential Retirement in Seattle.

San Diego-based Impairment Resources appointed Julie Osborn chief operating officer. She assumes responsibility for managing and improving processes and systems. In addition to focusing on initiatives aimed at overall claims cost reduction and quality assurance, Osborn will oversee the organization’s regulatory compliance.

Osborn has more than two decades of experience in the workers’ compensation and property/casualty insurance industry. She previously was director of compliance and operations for Matrix Absence Management, a third-party administrator.

Pasadena, Calif.-based Bolton & Co. announced that Wendee Allen joined the firm as assistant vice president in the Employee Benefits division. She is the sixth producer to join Bolton in 2010. Allen has a 22-year record of accomplishment in the area of employee benefits. She will be responsible for developing new and nurturing existing client relationships.

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