Our weekly look at the latest promotions, appointments, awards & accolades from in and around the Massachusetts insurance industry…
Appointments
InsurTech Corvus Names Gerritt Graham as Chief Commercial Officer
Boston-based insurtech company, Corvus, welcomes Gerritt Graham as Chief Commercial Officer. Gerritt joins Corvus with over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, primarily focused on technology and data solutions for the financial services industry.
“I am very happy to be joining the Corvus team,” says Gerritt. “Insurtech is an extremely exciting area to be in right now as it is at the forefront of tech investment. The next few years should bring explosive growth and innovation across the sector. I’m looking forward to helping make Corvus one of the best brands in the space.”
“Corvus is building a tech-driven approach to its commercial development,” says CEO Phil Edmundson. “Gerritt joins us with FinTech experience in established and early-stage companies. He has the expertise and experience to scale growth at Corvus.”
Corvus Insurance is a broker-friendly InsurTech MGA offering Smart Commercial Insurance™ policies and innovative technology that utilizes new forms of data to predict and prevent claims, creating value for the policyholder, broker, and underwriter.
Cooley Elects Insurance Leader Heidi Lawson to Partnership
Cooley is expanding its global insurance and insurtech leadership with the election of Heidi Lawson to the partnership.
Based in Boston, Lawson arrived at Cooley in April as of counsel. Formerly a leading insurance partner and co-chair of the insurance, reinsurance, investigations & risk management practice at Mintz Levin, she moved to Cooley with special counsel Greg Hoffnagle.
“Welcoming Heidi to the partnership makes perfect sense for the firm and our practice,” said Mark Everiss, London-based Cooley partner and head of the firm’s insurance & reinsurance group. “During her time here at Cooley, she has made a real impact within our practice and has shown her ability to connect with Cooley’s client base.”
Lawson is a globally recognized insurance lawyer sought for her uncommon international business perspective as an industry insider and her reputation as a trusted legal advisor. She believes in partnering with clients to find strategic solutions and identify ways to advance their business objectives. She leads global insurers, capital providers, insurtech innovators, brokers, businesses and major sports franchises through insurance product innovation, coverage dispute resolution, strategic policy creation and investigation management.
“I’m thrilled to join this wonderful partnership,” Lawson said. “This is truly a case of hitting the ground running, and I look forward to contributing to further global growth in this exciting and disrupting field.”
Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company Welcomes Marie Lackey As Senior Regional Sales Director
Experienced director brings over 20 years of benefits enrollment experience to drive growth in the Southeast
Marie Lackey has been appointed Senior Regional Sales Director for the Southeastern region at Boston Mutual. The new addition to the company’s Distribution department will support the life insurance carrier’s long-term strategic plans to drive sales, maintain competitive market positioning, and achieve greater levels of growth. Ms. Lackey brings over 20 years of benefits enrollment experience to her new role.
“Marie’s extensive benefits enrollment expertise and in-depth understanding of the Southeastern insurance market will make her a strong asset to the sales team,” said Jim Jacobsen, Executive Vice President of Distribution. “We are thrilled to have Marie onboard and delighted that Boston Mutual can benefit from the insights she brings to our team to support our business needs, growth, and success.”
Most recently, Ms. Lackey was the Regional Vice President at Transamerica and oversaw sales efforts and broker support in Alabama, western Tennessee, and northern Florida. Prior to joining Transamerica in 2008, she held benefits enrollments positions at Enrollment Advisors, MeadowBrook Healthcare, and Saiia Construction, all based in Birmingham, Alabama.
In her new role, Ms. Lackey will oversee sales and support in select regions in the Southeast. She will work closely with producers in the region to support sales efforts and continue to identify new sales opportunities for Boston Mutual.
Ms. Lackey earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, Alabama.
NAIC Accepting Applicants for 2019 Consumer Liaison Representatives
The NAIC is now accepting applications for its 2019 Consumer Liaison Program. Established in 1992, the Consumer Liaison Program promotes consumer representation and interaction with NAIC members by providing funding for representatives of consumer organizations to participate in NAIC meetings.
“The insight we get from consumer representatives is invaluable as we weigh the impact of changes to insurance regulation on the consumers in our states,” said Julie Mix McPeak, NAIC President and Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance. “They provide a unique perspective and voice, which is critical as we make decisions at the NAIC.”
According to the NAIC, a consumer organization can be a national, state or local organization that serves to protect the interests of consumers as they relate to the regulation of insurance. The NAIC provides travel expense reimbursement to funded consumer representatives.
“Partnering with consumer representatives ensures that we never lose sight of who we are working for – U.S. consumers,” said Stephen C. Taylor, Commissioner of the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. “Working with consumer advocates brings into focus our collective vision for protecting policyholders.” Taylor chairs the NAIC’s Consumer Liaison Committee and the Consumer Participation Board of Trustees.
To qualify, an individual must demonstrate a commitment to representing consumer interests in insurance regulation, be willing to fully participate in NAIC deliberations and have established expertise and experience on insurance-related issues addressed by the NAIC. Funded consumer representatives must also show that outside funding is required in order to carry out the above responsibilities. A candidate must not have obligations or commitments to an industry that conflict with his or her responsibilities to represent consumer interests.
Individuals who do not need NAIC funding may apply to participate in the Consumer Liaison Program as an unfunded consumer representative. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central time on Oct. 31, 2018. Applicants will be selected in December and notified in early 2019.
More information regarding the NAIC’s Consumer Liaison Program and the application process is available online.
Awards/Raffle
Cape Cod Insurance Agents Association (CCIA) Launches 2018 Driver’s Education Raffle
The Cape Cod Insurance Agents Association has announced its sponsorship of a new Driver’s Education Reimbursement Raffle for students residing on Cape Cod. To enter, eligible students need to take a picture of themselves wearing the bracelet that the CCIA has provided to schools with the message, “Stay Alive Don’t Text and Drive”.
Once they have the picture they should text it to capeagentsraffle@gmail.com, an email address created specifically for the raffle. Raffle winners will be announced in December.
The following is a complete list of the Raffle Rules:
- Applicant must submit full name and telephone number along with pic wearing “Stay Alive! Don’t Text & Drive” wrist band, via email to capeagentsraffle@gmail.com.
- Drawing to take place 12/14/2018.
- Applicants must be enrolled as students in high school within Barnstable, Dukes or Nantucket Counties.
- Applicants must complete driver’s education with a Massachusetts accredited Driver’s Education Facility within 6 months (before or after) the drawing date.
- Must provide proof of completion and payment of class.
- Raffle will pay reimbursement to the payer of the class of up to $750.00
- Children & Grandchildren of Cape Cod Insurance Agent’s Association board of directors’ members and officers are not eligible.
- Winner will be notified on or about 12/14/2018 and will have until 7/15/2019 to claim the prize.
There is no purchase necessary to win. For those interested in learning more, please visit the CCIA website at https://www.capeagents.com/.
