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

DONALD BATCHELOR was named vice president at Ametros Financial. Prior to joining Ametros Financial, he held the position of senior vice president of network services and operations with a startup healthcare company specializing in the federal sector. Batchelor has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, consisting of eight years in clinical positions and 22 years in healthcare management. His senior-level management experience with both Fortune 100 healthcare companies and start up healthcare companies can allow Ametros Financial to further develop and expand all aspects of its business. He will be working from the Ametros Southlake, Texas office.

"Working with Don again has been an aspiration of mine since we were at Health Net and First Health together. He is as good as it gets, and that fits the Ametros style perfectly," said Thomas Ash, chief executive officer at Ametros Financial.

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) Active Risk (formerly Strategic Thought Group) announced the appointment of IAIN JOHNSTON to the Board as a non-executive director. Johnston has held a number of non-executive positions as well as founding several businesses in the technology sector. He began his career with United Biscuits in the 1980s and has a strong sales and marketing background with experience of both the U.K. and the U.S. markets in a variety of roles at all levels.

Lynton Barker, executive chairman of Active Risk, commented, "We are delighted that Iain Johnston is joining the Active Risk Board. His wide ranging experience in the IT industry and strong sales and marketing skills will prove invaluable to support our growth strategy and business development activities. There is an increasing demand for Enterprise Risk Management software as businesses see how this can underpin their strategic decision making. Active Risk has the proven solution and the right team in place to support customers and to exploit the growing business opportunity. We welcome Iain to the Board."

In addition to his role with Active Risk, Iain is also a non-executive director of Internetq plc. He was Deputy Chairman of Alterian plc until October 2011, having co-founded the business in 1997 and was also CEO of the Loewy Group Ltd until the sale of the business in July 2011.

Agencyport Software (formerly Sword Insurance), a leading provider of software and services to the global insurance and reinsurance industries, announced that JEFF COSTLEY has joined the company senior sales director. Costley is based in Atlanta and brings more than 20 years of enterprise software sales to the insurance industry. He will primarily focus on the excess and surplus (E&S) market where he is well-regarded as a thought leader and a member of industry associations like AAMGA and NAPSLO.

"Carriers in the E&S market are now leveraging new ACORD standards and sophisticated vendor software like ours to service their agents, MGAs and retail and wholesale brokers. Agencyport has been a leader in P&C distribution technology for over a decade and Jeff will lead our expansion into the E&S market," said Mike McCurley, Agencyport's senior vice president of global sales. "His proven knowledge of the evolving IT challenges within the insurance industry will prove invaluable to our sales team, our company, and to our customers."

Previously, Costley held key positions within the Insurance software sector including national responsibility for excess and surplus market sectors. Costley has led, managed and executed the sales process from introduction to close of sale. He has also helped shape marketing strategies and routinely partnered with the product development teams, recommending enhancements and new development for future software versions and releases.

"Agencyport is known across the insurance industry for delivering outstanding customer service to back its broad and innovative product and service portfolio" said Costley. "I look forward to putting my expertise and experience within the E&S sector to work for Agencyport."

Exigen Insurance Solutions, a provider of modern core solutions to insurers delivered through an aligned-outcome business model, announced the appointment of WILHELM ZELLER as director. Zeller is the former chief executive officer and executive board chairman of Hannover Re.
"Mr. Zeller's addition to our board brings even further industry experience and insight to a strong team focused on the exciting market opportunities for our growing and talented organization," said Exigen Insurance Solutions' executive chairman, Alec Miloslavsky. "The company will benefit directly from his growth-oriented, business-building approach. Willie shares our vision of technology as a creator of business value in the insurance enterprise and we look forward to his contributions and guidance."

Zeller served as CEO at Hannover Re for 13 years. Under Mr. Zeller's guidance, Hannover Re grew in standing from sixth to third largest reinsurer in the world. His strategy of efficient capital management, active cycle management and a focus on profitability made Hannover Re into the world's second most profitable reinsurer. Prior to joining Hannover Re, Zeller was a member of the executive board of Cologne Re from 1977 through 1995. Earlier in his career, he served as the head of the Casualty Department and International Department Non-Life at Zurich Insurance Company.

January 10, 2012

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

The partners of Johnson Lambert & Co. LLP have announced that BRANDY VANNOY is a new partner at the Johnson Lambert partnership. She is a tax partner in the North Carolina office of Johnson Lambert & Co. LLP responsible for providing engagement management, tax compliance and consulting services to property-casualty insurance companies, life insurance companies, associations and other not-for-profit organizations and affiliated entities. She is actively involved in reviewing and assisting clients with FAS 109, FIN 48, SSAP 10R and SSAP 101 financial reporting calculations. Vannoy consults on tax related federal and state issues, as well as business opportunities and is experienced with IRS and state department exams, including negotiating settlements.

She joined Johnson Lambert & Co. LLP in 2004 after spending several years with KPMG LLP where she served both domestic and international clients in tax return preparation and planning for the financial services and a variety of other industries.

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) myMatrixx, announced that AMANDA OSMERA joined the organization as director of talent. She will manage human resources, workplace policies and procedures as well as the URAC accreditation process the organization is currently undergoing.

Osmera's experience and expertise include human resources management in the healthcare, PEO, publishing, and retail industries. Most recently she served as the human resources director for Maple Crest nursing facility operated by American Baptist Homes. Amanda has also served in similar positions with alternative newspaper publisher Creative Loafing, Berkshire Hathaway backed Nebraska Furniture Mart and PEO Lanier Upshaw.

The National Academy of Social Insurance recently invited two senior researchers from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) to become members -- deputy director and counsel, RAMONA TANABE, and senior analyst, CAROL TELLES.

"At a time when U.S. social insurance programs, such as workers compensation, are capturing news headlines and the attention of policymakers, NASI looks forward to recognizing, using, and sustaining the expertise of our new members from WCRI," said NASI President Janice Gregory.

NASI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of experts on social insurance. Its mission is to advance solutions to challenges facing the nation by increasing public understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security.

Academy members are recognized experts in social security, Medicare and health coverage, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, and related social assistance and private employee benefits. Individuals selected for membership have distinguished themselves by improving the quality of research, administration, or policymaking in one or more of these areas.

Barclays continues to grow its Non-Bank Financial Institutions team with the appointment of KARLA MALOOF as head of insurance, North America. Maloof will be responsible for developing and leading the regional strategy for the insurance sector.

Maloof joins Barclays from HSBC in Bermuda, where she was head of global banking and a member of the Senior Management Committee, focusing on the commercial insurance and reinsurance sector. Prior to joining HSBC in 2005, Maloof served as first vice president with Mellon Financial Corporation's insurance banking and loan products group, covering property and casualty, reinsurance and life insurance companies in the US, Europe and Bermuda.

Karla will report into Carl Boulton, head of insurance for Barclays Corporate, who commented; "Karla's appointment is a significant step forward in our global strategy to provide best in class coverage and solutions for our clients around the world and follows recent hires to strengthen the team in Western Europe."

January 17, 2012

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People on the Move: Specialists

Kane in at Dewey & LeBoeuf

ALICE KANE has joined Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP as a partner. She was most recently general counsel for the Americas at Zurich Financial Services, the insurance practice of the firm as a partner.

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) John Pruitt, partner and co-chair of the firm's Insurance Regulatory Department said: "We're very excited about Alice's arrival at the firm. She is a leading figure in the insurance industry, and has a great track record with a number of major US and international insurance companies. Bringing Alice's extensive boardroom experience and insights from the general counsel's perspective into play in combination with our preeminent position in the insurance sector presents some really significant opportunities for the firm."

LWG Names Leader of New Cyber Analysis Practice

JEFFREY HARTMAN has been named leader of the newly formed cyber incident analysis practice at LWG Consulting Inc. The group brings together newly developed cyber security expertise with LWG's existing hardware/software failure analysis laboratories and computer forensic capabilities to provide advanced investigations and response to many different types of high-tech incidents such as network intrusions, virus/malware attacks and unauthorized disclosure of protected information. Mr. Hartman will also be charged with growing LWG's existing computer forensic practice.

Prior to his involvement with LWG, Mr. Hartman founded and managed a successful computer forensic firm, Impact Forensics, and served as director of the computer forensic division of RGL Forensics.

"While we have always been known for our expertise in incidents involving information technology, Jeff's leadership and the new talent we have acquired significantly advance our efforts to become the premier global provider of post-loss technical expertise," said LWG Consulting President and CEO Bob Wedoff. "We're excited about serving our client corporations, insurers and their respective legal counsel in new ways that help quarantine risk and reduce uncertainty."

VLAD UHMYLENKO has joined U.S. RE Analytics as managing director and principal. He had formerly served as director-enterprise risk management at Standard & Poor's. Prior to Standard & Poor's, Uhmylenko served for 12 years at Aon in various risk management consulting roles. His main area of analytical expertise is decision making under uncertainty, which includes economic capital modeling, dynamic financial analysis and program optimization.

"We're pleased indeed that Vlad is joining U.S. RE Analytics. He is recognized as a thought leader in Enterprise Risk Management. His specialized knowledge and experience working with S&P-rated companies will bring an important new dimension to the U.S. RE Analytics practice," said Tal Piccione, chairman and CEO of U.S. RE Companies, Inc., parent of U.S. RE Analytics.

September 13, 2011

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