People & Places

National

AM Best, headquartered in Oldwick, New Jersey, appointed Kenneth J. Johnson as senior managing director and chief ratings officer. Stefan Holzberger became executive vice president and chief operating officer at AM Best Rating Services.

Starr, headquartered in New York City, named Peter Hirs as chief financial officer, succeeding Howard I. Smith, who is retiring after more than 40 years at Starr and related entities.

The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) promoted Tony Cotto to assistant vice president and counsel for federal and political affairs.

Resilience, headquartered in New York City, named George Kotsiopoulos as president, insurance.

The company named Gavin Reed as head of underwriting for North America.

Sarah Thompson is now global head of sales strategy, a new leadership role.

Jack Jenner was promoted to a new role as managing director, international insurance.

Zurich North America, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, appointed Kristen Bessette as chief data officer. She most recently served as senior vice president and chief actuary for commercial insurance at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Boston.

NFP, an Aon company headquartered in New York City, named Patrick O’Neill as head of its Financial Institutions Group.

He succeeds Lauren Kim, who was named the company’s regional managing director for P&C in the Northeast.

Inszone Insurance Services, headquartered in Sacramento, appointed Chris Tracy as regional president of California.

Sara Evans was named regional president for the Mountain West region. Francisco Saldana, a recent addition to Inszone, will serve as regional president for the Midwest.

Plymouth Rock Assurance, headquartered in Boston, named Ethan Tarby as president and CEO of Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation. Tarby served as interim president and CEO since June 2024. He will lead Plymouth Rock’s Independent Agency Group.

East

The Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts (AIB) appointed William H. Scully as president. Scully served as interim president, succeeding Kim A. Barber, who retired in April 2024. Scully served as vice president and chief actuary since 2020.

DeCotis Specialty Insurance, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, hired Chris-Michael Carangelo as a commercial lines broker.

Vermont Mutual, headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont, named company president Mark J. McDonnell as CEO. McDonnell replaces outgoing CEO and current board chair, Daniel C. Bridge. Brody N. Gilbert was named executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO).

The MEMIC Group, headquartered in Portland, Maine, promoted Kaila McCracken to vice president of business intelligence and analysis. McCracken previously served as director of financial planning.

Harford Mutual Insurance Group, headquartered in Bel Air, Maryland, hired Shane Crockett as vice president and chief underwriting officer. Bryan Yekstat was named assistant vice president, claims. Matthew Summerell was promoted to assistant vice president, business development. Craig White joined Harford Mutual as director of information security.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott named Sandy Bigglestone as acting Sandy Bigglestone commissioner of the state’s Department of Financial Regulation.

Protecdiv, headquartered in Philadelphia, appointed Steve Skowronski as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

XS Brokers, headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, hired Annie Dawson as senior vice president to head national carrier relations and strategy.

XS Brokers also named Scott Burns as senior vice president of its newly created product division for cyber liability.

The MEMIC Group, headquartered in Portland, Maine, promoted Matt Holbrook to vice president of data and analytics. Holbrook most recently served as senior director of data, analytics and technology.

West

Front Row Insurance Brokers LLC, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, hired film insurance broker Tony “Anthony” Baratta to its Los Angeles office. Baratta joins Front Row after a 16-year career at Gallagher Entertainment.

Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer hired members for her executive team at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, including Andrew Davis, deputy commissioner for consumer protection; Tanya Lavoy, deputy commissioner for public affairs; Larry Robinette, tribal liaison; Tom Zuvela, chief financial officer; Sam Gutierrez, external communications manager and Alissa Julius, executive assistant to the commissioner.

The California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA), promoted Yana Connors of CK Specialty to president from her previous role as vice president. Other promotions include Garett Kaneko of Amwins as vice president, Sarah Sloan of Paragon Insurance Holdings steps to the treasurer, and Aimee Bernadicou of Wholesure as secretary. John Donahue, also of Wholesure, transitions to the role of immediate past president. David Klayman of Seneca and Jack Else of Nationwide were named new board members.

Brooks Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Venbrook Group LLC, headquartered in Los Angeles, hired Tiffani Ann Garabedian as senior vice president of underwriting.

Newfront, based in San Francisco, promoted Paige Maisonet to chief people officer. Maisonet oversees talent acquisition, people operations, and employee experience.

Aspire, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California, named Isaac Adams vice president of product. Adams most recently served as Aspire’s chief marketing officer.

The Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies (PADIC), headquartered in Auburn, California, elected Anisha Basi, general counsel for Pacific Specialty Insurance Company, to serve as PADIC president.

Midwest

Grange Insurance Company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, promoted Mike Hickman to vice president, national underwriting and business operations.

Canopius, headquartered in Chicago, appointed Laura Burke as U.S. head of cyber and technology. Burke assumes the role after serving as executive vice president, cyber and technology, since joining the company in 2020.

Southeast

Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Irvine, California, hired Justin Davis as a producer within its employee benefits group.

Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, appointed Bill Neely as regional sales director for North Florida in its distribution and business development department.

Alliant Insurance Services, headquartered in Irvine, California, hired Bradley Cassidy, based in Fort Myers, Florida, as vice president within its Alliant Americas division.

South Central

BenefitMall, headquartered in Dallas, appointed Tim Kealamakia to its team as the new benefits sales executive for the Mountain West region.

Tokio Marine HCC, based in Houston, Texas, appointed Brendan Gaine to the new role of head of North American distribution. Stuart Heath was appointed as head of distribution – international. Heath previously served as TMHCC’s head of delegated property.