People and Places

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in Houston added Danny Golden as vice president for its construction niche. Golden will assist in the service of existing and new clients as well as other members of the Gallagher construction niche throughout the Southwest.

During his 12 year career, Golden has worked as a sales and brokerage specialist. His principal focus is working with developers and contractors on owner and contractor controller insurance programs or wraps.

Houston-based Wholesale broker IMS Insurance Market Solutions named Linda Morse to head its newly created Healthcare Division. Morse most recently was vice president and Houston Healthcare manager for U.S. Risk Insurance Group. Michele Tran, also most recently with the U.S. Risk Healthcare Division, and Jan Herveat, with IMS since 2005, add their extensive healthcare experience to the group.

The healthcare team has a combined 35 plus years offering innovative insurance solutions exclusively to healthcare providers.

Morse spent seven years with U.S. Risk broking to the E&S healthcare markets and underwriting Lloyds healthcare programs, as well as developing new products and programs. Prior to U.S. Risk, Morse spent nine years with Myron Steves Healthcare Division working with self-insurance and reinsurance for large health systems.

Tran has underwritten healthcare accounts for Bunker Hill (MGA), Myron Steves and U.S. Risk.

Herveat has spent her career wholesale broking healthcare and professional liability risks.

According to the company announcement, the group will be concentrating on writing professional and general liability for many types of healthcare risks ranging from nurse staffing and home healthcare to clinics, labs, surgery centers and nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

IMS is an all-lines commercial excess and surplus lines broker accepting business from a broad range of retail agents and brokers throughout the United States. Parent company, Burnett Holdings Inc., also owns Burnett & Co., a New Orleans-based managing general agent with operations in Houston. It specializes in marine and energy business.

Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) hired Bernie Hewitt as business unit manager for the small accounts team.

Hewitt joins LWCC from the Montana State Fund, where he was the operation business manager of the large premium segment. Hewitt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Montana. He has earned the Associate in Commercial Underwriting and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designations.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners President and Alabama Insurance Commissioner Walter Bell was elected vice chairman of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors Executive Committee. Bell joins the Executive Committee as the association nears completion of recommendations on standard setting and implementation initiatives for the IAIS through 2012.

The chairmanship of the IAIS became available when former Maine Superintendent and 2006 NAIC President Alessandro Iuppa stepped down to pursue a career in the private sector. Iuppa had been chair since 2004.

IAIS members also elected Michel Flamee as chair of the committee. Flamee is vice chair of the Banking, Finance and Insurance Commission of Belgium.

HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. announced that Stephen L. Way, chairman and founder of HCC, is retiring from its Board of Directors.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC is an international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States and in Bermuda, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland promoted Chris Van Ess to chief examiner and director of the Financial Division at the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

Van Ess is a five-year veteran of the department, serving most recently as deputy chief examiner. Van Ess earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and holds the professional designations of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Public Examiner (CFE).

Markel Insurance Co. named Thomas K. “Smitty” Smith as vice president of marketing. Smith joins Markel after three years as senior vice president and managing director of the Richmond branch of Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes, which he established.

Before RCM&D, Smith spent 16 years in a variety of marketing, business development, and senior management positions with The Reciprocal Group.

Marsh & McLennan Companies’ Guy Carpenter & Co. announced that Chairman Salvatore D. Zaffino has retired. He is continuing in his role as non-executive chairman of Guy Carpenter & Company LLC. In this capacity, he will work in a consultative role with senior management at both Guy Carpenter and MMC.

Zaffino was appointed chairman of Guy Carpenter in 1999. He previously had served as chairman and CEO of Sedgwick Re North America from 1993 to 1998. From 1985 to 1993, he was chairman of Crump Re, an organization he created and continued to manage until its merger with Sedgwick Re.

AIR Worldwide Corp. appointed John W. Rollins to the position of vice president. Rollins will be based in Tallahassee, Fla., and will provide catastrophe-risk related actuarial consulting services to AIR’s clients. In addition, he will direct and oversee the AIR Institute, an education and training program to meet the growing industry need for skilled catastrophe risk modelers and managers.

Most recently, Rollins was chief actuary and director of corporate analytics at Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

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