Security First Insurance in Florida Forms Regulatory Compliance Department

Security First Insurance Company has expanded and added new positions to its Ormond Beach, Fla.-based headquarters.

According to Werner Kruck, chief operating officer, the company has formed a new Regulatory Compliance Department that will report to Melissa Burt-DeVriese, chief administrative officer and chief legal counsel.

“Our company is on its way to a key growth milestone – $500 million in premiums,” said Werner. “With this growth comes the need to add additional subject matter experts to our team.”

DeVriese said the company is embarking on a new stage in the management of the company that requires oversight of its Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA).

“This involves a complex set of regulations. To ensure we have the bench strength necessary to efficiently position us for future growth and reporting expectations, we’ve expanded our staff,” DeVriese said.

Security First has brought on board a new staff attorney, Charles J. Grimsley, and promoted a long-term key contributor, Kathy Wood, who will lead the initiative as vice president of Corporate Compliance.

Wood joined Security First Insurance in 2010 as a statutory accountant and was promoted to controller in 2011. She has an extensive financial background, as well as experience in regulatory compliance. She holds a B.A. in Accounting from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Grimsley’s has nearly four decades of experience in the insurance industry in the state of Florida. He has served as an attorney and Bureau Chief for the Florida Department of Insurance; worked for 10 years in private practice focusing on insurance; and served as general counsel for Florida’s largest automobile insurance company.

For a decade, Grimsley also served as chairman of the Florida Property and Casualty Association, a trade group exclusively comprised of Florida domestic insurers. During his time there, he lobbied the Florida Legislature for reforms intended to improve the Florida insurance market.

Grimsley is a member of the Florida Bar Association as well as the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. He holds a B.S., M.B.A and J.D. from Florida State University. In his new role, Grimsley reports directly to DeVriese.

Security First Insurance serves policyholders living across Florida.

Topics Florida Legislation