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Aspen Insurance Holdings appointed Mario Vitale as New York-based co-CEO of Aspen Insurance, effective beginning of 2012. He will work jointly with Rupert Villers, co-CEO of Aspen Insurance, in developing the company’s insurance operations. Before joining Aspen, he was CEO of global corporate unit at Zurich Financial Services.

The Hartford Financial Services Group appointed Robert Rupp as executive vice president and chief risk officer. He replaces Lizabeth Zlatkus, who retired at the end of October. He most recently served as executive vice president and head of enterprise-wide market risk at BNY Mellon.

Former Maryland Insurance Commissioner R. Steven Orr joined Towson, Md.-based IWIF Workers’ Compensation Insurance as senior vice president of information systems. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing all aspects of IWIF’s information systems operations. Orr was Maryland’s insurance commissioner from January 2006 to May 2007.

Insurance Agents & Brokers Services Group in Pennsylvania appointed Lauren Brinjac as government affairs director. She comes from Pennsylvania Bar Association, where she worked as a legislative coordinator.

Chartis appointed Tim Carter as chief underwriting officer for the global commercial insurance unit. He joins Chartis from Zurich Financial Services Group, where he was the chief underwriting officer for Zurich in North America.

R-T Specialty, the wholesale brokerage unit of Ryan Specialty Group, appointed Mark Smith as president and managing director for the firm’s New York operation. He brings to R-T Specialty more than three decades’ experience in the wholesale/specialty marketplace, with expertise in building and managing local, regional and national wholesale offices and operations.

Wells Fargo Insurance Services appointed Joseph Cathcart as managing director for its Philadelphia operations. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, he was vice president and division manager for Philadelphia operations at Thomas Rutherfoord.

Utica National Insurance Group in New Hartford, New York, appointed Raymond Cox as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. Cox comes from Munich Reinsurance America in Princeton, New Jersey, where he was vice president and treasurer.

Aon Risk Solutions appointed Paul Healy as Boston-based executive vice president and national managing director of contract surety. Previously, Healy was executive vice president and North America surety practice leader at Willis.

Aon Risk Solutions also appointed Jeffrey Polucha as vice president of business development for its Providence, Rhode Island, office. Polucha comes from Soucy Insurance Agency in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Rye Brook, N.Y.-based specialty insurer The Navigators Group said senior vice president of finance Ciro DeFalco is filling the chief financial officer position on an interim basis. Francis McDonnell, who had been serving as CFO, retired at the end of October.

XL Group’s insurance unit hired Michele Sansone as senior vice president and eastern regional executive, based in New York. She comes from Zurich NA where she was senior vice president and northeast regional manager.

Topics New York Excess Surplus