People – Midwest

Ohio-based Norman-Spencer Agency Inc. has appointed Christopher Norman, an attorney with broad insurance industry experience, as general counsel.

Most recently, Norman represented national and state carriers in matters of insurance coverage, complex litigation, appeals, property damage, workers compensation, and general civil litigation defense at a private law firm in Miami, Fla.

Norman attended Ohio University, majoring in political science. He earned a law degree at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, La. While at Tulane, Norman focused his studies on corporation and commercial law, and obtained concentrations in both. Norman furthered his studies at Cambridge University and The University of London School of Law, receiving a Certificate in International Business and Trade Law.

Markel Corp. has promoted Chris Reichert and Denise Perlman its specialty division.

Reichert has been promoted to managing director of sales and marketing and Denise Perlman to director of business development for Markel Specialty.

Reichert will be responsible for the tactical implementation of sales and marketing plans for Markel Specialty. He will focus primarily on the growth of its business with retail agencies.

Reichert came to Markel Corporation as a result of the 2010 acquisition of FirstComp Insurance, a monoline workers’ compensation insurer, and assumes his new duties following his leadership roles in underwriting, sales, and marketing. He has been serving as the primary business development link between Markel FirstComp and Markel Specialty.

In his new role, Reichert will split his time between Markel’s Richmond headquarters and other offices.

Perlman’s primary focus will be managing national account agency relationships which include bank-owned agencies countrywide and assigned national and regional agencies.

With Markel for over 10 years, Perlman most recently held the position of business development specialist for the Mid-Atlantic region, focusing on strengthening retail agency relationships and growth in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Perlman has held positions in marketing and sales during her tenure with Markel. She will be a member of the Markel Specialty senior sales group in her new role.

XL Group plc has added Mary-Ellen (Mimi) Fiske as vice president, umbrella and excess manager to its surplus lines unit in Chicago.

Fiske reports to David Halm, chief underwriting officer and head of XL Group’s surplus lines casualty business.

She joins XL from Peachtree Special Risk in Chicago where she served as vice president and casualty broker. Prior to her tenure at Peachtree, she spent the last decade with Argo Group in Chicago where she most recently served as vice president and excess casualty division manager, managing a large national book of excess and surplus risks. Earlier in her career, Fiske held underwriting management positions with Liberty International and General Star Management in New York. She holds her Associate of Surplus Lines Insurance designation.

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Great American Insurance Group has promoted Darrell Bickley to divisional vice president of its Trucking Division. He is based in Cincinnati.

Bickley joined the Trucking Division in 2004 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility with the Division during the past eight years. Under Bickley’s leadership, the Trucking Division’s Physical Damage Claims, Rig Ready, and Recovery teams have developed into service units recognized as best in class by motor carriers and independent insurance agents active in the transportation sector.

Topics Ohio