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The Hartford appointed Lisa Morgan senior vice president of its middle market commercial insurance business. She will lead The Hartford’s $2 billion middle market commercial insurance unit that provides the property/casualty protection needs of mid-sized businesses and other entities, such as educational institutions and industry associations.

Morgan, who most recently served as vice president of middle market operations, joined The Hartford in 2001. She joined the Middle Market team in 2005. Prior to that, she spent six years in private law practice.

Safeco Insurance appointed Chris Alexander to regional general manager for its California region personal lines operation.

Alexander will be based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., and comes to this position from New York, where he recently was Safeco’s region manager for New York and New Jersey since 2008. While Alexander was in this role, Safeco was honored by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of New York as Outstanding Super Regional Personal Lines Company Partner for 2010. Prior to joining Safeco, Alexander was responsible for personal and commercial lines assignments for Liberty Mutual.

The Insurance Marketing and Communications Association (IMCA) elected Linda J. Collins president of the association for a two-year term. Collins is vice president of corporate communications at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. She has 30 years of insurance industry-related experience.

Other appointed IMCA officers are: Executive Vice President Robert Martin, The Co-operators; Executive Vice President Madeline Johnson, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies; Vice President Gary Kimball, Kimball Communications; Treasurer Krista Winters, American Modern Insurance Group; Past President Richard Look, Vertibrands; Past President at Large Reg Pierce, Bailey Brand Consulting; Past President at Large Ron Rice, Association of Washington Cities

Additionally, IMCA appointed four new board members: Sandra Collins of The Co-operators, Emily Hathcoat of CNA, John Coombe of Liberty Mutual and Lauren Knapp of Insurance Journal.

Returning board members include Mark Friedlander of Main Street America Group, Randall Clinger of SwissRe, and Thomas Wetzel of Thomas H. Wetzel & Associates Inc.

Menlo Park, Calif.-based Pacific Specialty Insurance Co. (PSIC) appointed David L. Sacks vice president of corporate risk and finance. Sacks, who had served as PSIC chief financial officer, will be responsible for enterprise-wide risk management, including long-term financial planning and risk management. This is the latest step in a career spanning more than 18 years with PSIC and the McGraw Group of Affiliated Companies.

Reno, Nev.-based Employers promoted Barbara Giannini to vice president of strategy and management reporting. With 17 years of financial management and strategic consulting experience, Giannini previously served as the director of strategy at Employers. In her new role, Giannini will lead the recently combined Strategy and Corporate Financial Analysis group and continue to play a key role in acquisitions, investments and strategic partnerships.

SullivanCurtisMonroe named Tod Toriello vice president in its Irvine, Calif., office. Toriello joins SCM from Aon in Orange County, Calif., where he was a producer. Prior to that, he held positions as an account executive at SCM and Liberty Mutual.

Equity Risk Partners added Rhonda Rayha-Teegarden as director of marketing for property/casualty. She will be based out of the company’s San Francisco headquarters and will lead the marketing team within the firm’s P/C practice, as well as be responsible for managing client relationships and performing due diligence on new transactions. Prior to joining the firm, she spent eight years at Aon Risk Services.

Topics New York Property Casualty