People

The van Aartrijk Group LLC, a Washington, D.C.-area marketing and communications firm, is augmenting its branding and public affairs capabilities with the promotion of one executive and addition of another, according to Peter van Aartrijk, chief executive officer.

Maureen P. Wall, who has 20 years of senior-level branding, publishing and corporate communications experience, has been promoted to vice president, and she will lead Aartrijk’s branding activities. Jeffrey A. Myers, senior associate, has joined the firm to spearhead its public affairs efforts. He brings to the firm 21 years of branding, public affairs and media relations experience.

Wall began her career in editing at Murdoch Magazines and Conde Nast Publications, and went on to roles at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America including the launch of the Trusted Choice brand program and the publishing of Independent Agent magazine. She joined Aartrijk in 2002.

Myers will oversee a new public affairs division. He also will support Aartrijk’s public relations, marketing communications, branding and editorial services. Most recently, Myers was executive director of the Trusted Choice program. Before assuming leadership of Trusted Choice, Myers was IIABA’s vice president of communications, and prior to that, he managed the association’s lobbying communication activities.

Latham, N.Y.-based First Cardinal LLC, a provider of third-party administrative services for workers’ compensation self-insurance groups, announced that co-founder and chief operating officer Richard S. Flaherty has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of First Cardinal and its affiliates, as part of the company’s succession planning.

Gary L. Keehfus, co-founder and president and CEO since the company’s 1994 inception, will now become chairman of First Cardinal and its affiliates. In his new role as chairman, Keehfus will focus on strategic initiatives, identifying acquisition and partnership opportunities for First Cardinal.

As the company’s chief operating officer since its founding, Flaherty has supervised the development and growth of First Cardinal’s claims services and has led the company’s expansion into new states.

In addition, First Cardinal LLC has hired Justin Gray, of Albany, N.Y., as its new marketing communications manager. In his role, Gray will develop strategic marketing and public relations initiatives and oversee production of the company’s communications, including newsletters, brochures, advertisements and direct mail materials. Previously, Gray was employed by Sawchuk, Brown Associates, an Albany public relations agency.

First Cardinal LLC administers 23 self-insurance groups that provide workers’ compensation coverage in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Texas.

Insurance and benefits broker William Gallagher Associates reports that Lyn Rossano has joined the Maryland office as senior vice president in the property/casualty area. She brings 20 years of risk advisory experience to the group. Rossano comes to WGA most recently from Willis, in the New York and Bethesda offices, where she led the National Life Science Practice. Before that, she spent 15 years underwriting life science business at both Continental and CNA.

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America announced that Deirdre Manna, former acting director of the Illinois Division of Insurance, has joined PCI as vice president of industry and regulatory affairs. Manna will lead the association’s activities with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Conference of Insurance Legislators and American Legislative Exchange Council. Prior to joining PCI, Manna served as a government relations professional for Dykema Gossett, PLLC in Chicago. Before serving with the Illinois Division of Insurance, Manna spent seven years with the American Insurance Association.

The Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association announced its new officers and directors, including President Catherine Kalaydjian, who is executive vice president and head of claims for Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. Other officers elected include: Vice President Walter O’Grady Jr., senior vice president of claims, GMAC Re; Treasurer Kurt Steinhauer, vice president of claims, General Reinsurance Corp. and Secretary Sandra Van Enk, vice president, The Toa Reinsurance Company of America.

Specialty lines broker Bill Craane has joined the New York office of wholesaler Swett & Crawford. Since 2001 Craane has been with American E&S where he specialized in construction risks from Connecticut to Florida. In addition he has worked on entertainment, transportation and liquor liability risks. He began his career at Frank Crystal & Co., and then moved to Hartan Brokerage where he was a risk analyst.

Connecticut insurance agency Gowrie, Barden & Brett has hired Bryan Schwartz as a personal lines sales agent. Schwartz will work out of the Westbrook office. Prior to joining GBB, Schwartz worked in the personal lines department at the V.F. McNeil Agency in Branford.

Lawrence R. Pentis of California will join the senior executive team of The Commerce Group Inc. in Massachusetts in January. He will be responsible for operations outside of Massachusetts as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Commerce Insurance Co. of Ohio and Commerce West Insurance Co. in California.

The appointment of Pentis follows the recent naming of James A. Ermilio as executive vice president of Massachusetts operations. Together they are meant to position the company to both maintain its leading market share in Massachusetts and accelerate expansion efforts outside of the state, according to Gerald Fels, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of The Commerce Group.

Pentis most recently served as senior vice president for the California State Automobile Association, which serves northern California, Nevada, and Utah). During his 17 years at CSAA, he managed product management, underwriting and claims. More recently, Pentis expanded CSAA’s business from writing in three states to 16 states over a three year period.