People on the Move: Brokers (Jan. 10, 2012)

Willis North America announced the appointment of FRANK CASTRO as Health Care Practice Leader. Castro has been serving as Senior Vice President of Willis North America National Health Care Practice since 2007.

Castro assumes the position previously held by MARY BOTKIN who retired in November 2011. In this role, Castro will lead a team of more than 150 healthcare insurance professionals to drive growth across the platform. He will work closely with Willis North America's regional retail offices to align resources and deliver industry leading solutions and service to more than 6,000 Willis healthcare clients.

Related Coverage Target Markets Survey Shines Light on Programs Coverage (11/02/11) Lighter Headwinds Buffet Brokers in Third Quarter (11/03/11) Honoring Worker Safety and Injury Prevention (11/01/11) 12 Executives to Watch in 2012 (12/01/11) Consumed With Risk (12/01/11) Based in Los Angeles, Castro joined Willis in 2006 and brings more than 18 years of experience in the professional liability and specialty lines business. Previously, he co-led Willis' Managed Care practice, establishing Willis as a leader in this sector through a variety of thought leadership events including Willis' Annual Managed Care Forum.

Eric Joost, Chief Executive, Willis North America Specialties said: "Frank's strong track record and outstanding client focus will ensure we continue to build on the success of the Willis Health Care Practice. Willis' health care practice professionals truly understand their clients' needs and industries and stand ready to deliver the best solutions and services to all of our clients."

EILEEN CONLON has been appointed Managing Director at Beecher Carlson. She will be primarily responsible for the development and management of healthcare accounts by leveraging her extensive knowledge base coupled with Beecher Carlson?s healthcare resources. She will also work with other complex property and casualty clients such as commercial real estate owners.

Eileen will operate from Beecher Carlson?s Miami office. She brings more than 20 years of insurance industry experience to her new role. Most recently, she served as Managing Director with Willis after its acquisition of HRH of Florida Inc. in 2008. Prior to Willis, she was the President of South Florida operations for HRH where she was responsible for leading business strategy, strategic marketing and sales management.

Frank McKenna, Executive Managing Director said: ?We could not be more pleased to be bringing talent like Eileen into the organization. She has a proven track record of advocating on behalf of her clients and exceeding their expectations. We are excited to have Eileen join our team.?

TODD E. CUSANO has joined Business Risk Partners?a managing general agency focused on specialty commercial insurance?as the Underwriting Manager for Professional Liability. From 2007 to 2011, Cusano served as an Assistant Vice President for Allied World Assurance Company/Darwin National Assurance Company where he built and managed a $50 million professional liability program for lawyers underwritten on admitted and surplus lines paper. Previous to that, he spent four years with The Hartford as an Executive Underwriter and Claims Consultant.

Cusano began his career practicing law with Hartford-based law firm Updike, Kelly and Spellacy. He returned briefly to the firm this year working in commercial litigation and professional liability before joining Business Risk Partners.

While in his early thirties, Cusano served as one of the youngest mayors in the state of Connecticut for the town of Rocky Hill.

January 10, 2012

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People on the Move: Brokers (Jan. 17, 2012)

Marsh announced the appointment of VINCENT C. MARROT as global leader, energy engineering and leader of construction engineering in Marsh's International Division. In this newly created position, Marrot will be responsible for delivering Marsh's risk-engineering products and services on a globally consistent basis for Marsh's Energy Practice and for Marsh's Construction Practice outside of North America.

Marrot brings to Marsh 20 years of engineering experience, including the last 12 years as an insurance loss adjuster. He joins Marsh from AquaTerra Adjusters, a division of Cunningham Lindsey International, where he was a senior vice president.

Related Coverage Target Markets Survey Shines Light on Programs Coverage (11/02/11) Lighter Headwinds Buffet Brokers in Third Quarter (11/03/11) Honoring Worker Safety and Injury Prevention (11/01/11) 12 Executives to Watch in 2012 (12/01/11) Consumed With Risk (12/01/11) "In the aftermath of a number of large losses in the energy and construction sectors, our clients are focusing more than ever on loss prevention and operational excellence," said Jim Pierce, Marsh's global energy practice leader. "With a new, more coordinated global risk engineering approach under Vincent's leadership, Marsh will be in a better position to provide its energy and construction clients with solutions to help meet their increasingly complex needs."

A native of France, Marrot holds advanced degrees in petroleum engineering, engineering in manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. He will be based in Houston.

Lockton Affinity has expanded its government contracting expertise with the addition of SARA K. PAYNE as a senior vice president. Payne, an expert in the creation and operation of Defense Base Act insurance programs for government contractors, will be based in Lockton Affinity's Washington, D.C. area offices.

"Sara Payne is recognized as a leader in managing complex insurance programs for government contractors," said Steve Eginoire, chairman and CEO of Lockton Affinity. "Our clients will benefit from her in-depth knowledge and innovative approach to building and maintaining specialized insurance programs for government contractors while they are posted abroad."

Payne has previously led the Government Contractor team at Rutherfoord International, an insurance broker in the Washington, D.C. area. She was with the company for 18 years.

MICHAEL F. POWER has also joined Lockton as senior vice president and Northeast Real Estate Practice Leader based in the insurance broker's midtown Manhattan offices. He will be responsible for business development and client advocacy for clients in the real estate and hospitality industries.

"Mike Power's experience and breadth of expertise will be of tremendous value to our real estate clients," said Tim Ryan, chief operating officer of Lockton Northeast. "The property insurance market continues to be dynamic, and Mike will help guide our clients through the risk management and insurance challenges ahead."

Power has expertise in alternate risk funding techniques, insurance contract analysis, and working with the complexities of risk management for a wide variety of commercial and residential Real Estate and Hospitality related exposures, as well as active involvement in all facets of related insurance placements. He has advised clients on the feasibility of Captive insurers as well as accessing the London, Bermuda and European insurance markets.

Most recently, he headed the New York Real Estate Practice at insurance broker Willis with an emphasis on metropolitan New York area clients. He started his career with the Maryland Casualty Company, transitioning to the brokerage community with Leonard Newman Agency in White Plains, N.Y. He has also held senior leadership positions with Sedgwick James and Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

Willis North America announced the appointment of GERALD CECIL as a practice leader for Willis Programs. In this role, Cecil will be responsible for building on the Programs' national broker distribution network and managing the existing Platinum Broker network. He will also lead the team's marketing efforts with trade associations and collaborate with underwriting teams to enhance customer knowledge, understanding and awareness of the various Willis programs including RecycleGuard, WasteHaulerGuard and AutoServiceGuard.

Prior to joining Willis, he served as business development director, global automotive industry practice at Zurich Financial Services Ltd. Cecil has also held leadership roles at Universal Underwriters and Wausau Insurance Companies.

David Hampson, president & CEO of Willis Programs said: "We are pleased to have Gerry join the Willis Programs family. Gerry has extensive industry specific experience that will help us grow vertically as well as horizontally. In addition, Gerry's experience with distribution will allow us to improve and grow our distribution network."

January 17, 2012

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People on the Move: Brokers

New Broker at Swett

ERIN MOLLOY has been promoted to broker in Swett & Crawford's Irvine, Calif. office.She will specialize in handling all property and inland marine exposures.For the past four years, Molloy has worked in Swett's Los Angeles office as an associate broker. Before joining Swett, Molloy worked at Partners General Insurance Agency as an underwriting assistant.

Related Coverage Target Markets Survey Shines Light on Programs Coverage (11/02/11) Lighter Headwinds Buffet Brokers in Third Quarter (11/03/11) Honoring Worker Safety and Injury Prevention (11/01/11) 12 Executives to Watch in 2012 (12/01/11) Consumed With Risk (12/01/11) "Erin has does a great job in gaining the knowledge and experience to have a very successful broking career with Swett & Crawford," said sales leader Curt Biersch.

New Philly Office for Lockton

KEVIN JUNOD has been named executive vice president of Lockton and will lead the company's new office in Philadelphia. He is a 24-year veteran of the insurance brokerage industry and most recently served as managing director for Aon Risk Solutions. JOHN D. UPRIGHT has been named senior vice president in the healthcare practice at Lockton. He has more than 20 years in the industry and previously held positions with Aon, PricewaterhouseCoopers and ARAMARK. JOHN R. COLOSIMO JR. has also joined Lockton. He will serve as senior vice president in the healthcare practice after previously holding positions with Aon, Willis. He also worked as the assistant director of risk management at Temple University.

"We are pleased to attract this talented group of professionals to serve our clients," said Michael Calabrese, chairman of Lockton's Northeast operations."Healthcare organizations face a remarkable set of risk management challenges. Our clients will benefit from the experience and in-depth knowledge that our new colleagues bring to the table."

The company's Memphis office added BEN SEWARD, who will take the role of senior vice president-account executive, responsible for property casualty insurance program development, negotiation, placement and service for corporate clients.He was previously the senior vice president and senior client advisor at Marsh for eight years. Previously, he provided risk management leadership for 26 years at Federal ExpressCorp., serving as managing director of risk management from 1994 to2003.

TRISTAR Taps Marano

STEVE MARANO has been named director of sales and client services at TRISTAR Risk Management. Marano has a strong background in private sector risk management, with a combined 13 years of experience helping to lead insurance companies such as Liberty Mutual and Travelers Insurance toward new business opportunities. He's managed claims services teams and provided effective issue resolution and claims handling for large corporate customers.

"We look forward to Steve's contributions to the ongoing growth of TRISTAR in the private sector," said Joe McLaughlin, senior vice president of sales and marketing. "His focus on customer service and abilities in new business development will help us expand our risk management services to the private sector and build strong broker relationships."

September 13, 2011

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