People – Southeast

Workers’ compensation specialist Patriot National Insurance Group promoted Paul Halter to executive vice president of underwriting and marketing. As executive vice president, Halter will oversee all underwriting and marketing for Patriot National operations across its six regions.

He is currently located in Patriot National’s office in Charlotte, N.C. where he has been regional vice president, but he will move to the corporate headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

As regional vice president of Patriot’s southeast region, Halter grew the region from 20 appointed independent insurance agents to more than 200 with more than $50 million in premium.

Before joining Patriot National, Halter was senior vice president of U.S. operation for Atlas Insurance Management. He has also been with Commerce Casualty Group, Crum & Forster and Marsh & McLennan.

The MEMIC Group, a workers’ compensation insurer headquartered in Maine, recently promoted Jared Payton to national director of ancillary services. He is based in MEMIC’s Tampa, Fla., location. Payton joined MEMIC in 1996 and has served in roles with increasing responsibility within the claims department. Most recently, he served as the director of claim operations.

Chicago-based Kemper Corp. has named Andrea James as president of Kemper Preferred, the business focused on selling packaged private passenger auto and home policies through independent agents.

Prior to this role, James was senior vice president, marketing and sales, responsibilities she will retain. James joined Kemper Preferred in May 2012 with 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kemper, James worked at Fireman’s Fund. She has also worked at Bank of America and Allstate.

Marita Zuraitis, a member of The Hanover Insurance Group’s executive leadership team and president of its property/casualty companies, is resigning to become president and chief executive officer of Horace Mann Educators Corp. in Springfield, Ill. She leaves after nine years with the company, Hanover said in a statement.

The company said it has no plan to fill the position.