Looking for a new insurance career opportunity? Trying to find high-quality and qualified local talent? Or interested in a more personal recruiting experience?
Our job board just may be the answer…. Take a tour of it here.
Now on to our weekly round-up of the latest announcements, press releases and notices on career and company news of interest to our community…Have an announcement you would like to share? Contact us here.
Promotions
AIG Promotes David McElroy to Lead North America General Insurance Operations, Lou Levinson is promoted to Lexington Insurance President and CEO
American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) today announced that David McElroy, President and CEO of Lexington, has been promoted to President and CEO of the North America operations of General Insurance. Mr. McElroy will continue to report to Peter Zaffino, CEO General Insurance and Global Chief Operating Officer, AIG, and continue to serve as a member of the General Insurance Executive Leadership Team. This new appointment is effective immediately. Mr. McElroy first joined AIG in October 2018.
In this new role, Mr. McElroy will continue to oversee Lexington, as well as AIG Risk Management (AIGRM), Financial Lines, Validus Specialty, Western World, Glatfelter and Programs. Mr. McElroy will also oversee the U.S., Bermuda and Canadaunderwriting and field operations of General Insurance.
“David’s strong track record of leading profitable underwriting businesses and his deep client relationships make him ideally qualified to lead the North American operations of General Insurance,” said Mr. Zaffino. “I look forward to continuing to work with David as we position AIG for sustainable underwriting profitability.”
In connection with Mr. McElroy’s new role, AIG also announced that Lou Levinson has been named President and CEO of Lexington. Mr. Levinson will continue to report to Mr. McElroy, with responsibility for the ongoing repositioning of the Lexington and its new strategy as an Excess & Surplus Lines market leader.
Prior to joining AIG, Mr. McElroy held numerous leadership roles within the insurance industry, including Executive Chairman of Arch Insurance Group Inc. and Vice Chairman of Arch Worldwide Insurance Group. Mr. Levinson has served as Lexington’s Head of Casualty since joining AIG in September 2018.
In addition to Mr. McElroy’s promotion, AIG also announced this week that Lou Levinson has been promoted to Lexington Insurance President & CEO. Mr. Levinson first joined AIG as Head of Casualty for the Lexington Insurance Group in 2018. Mr. Levinson began his career with Chubb before moving on to other senior positions with ACE Westchester Specialty Group, ARGO Group International Holdings, Inc., and IFG Companies. Prior to joining AIG last year, he was President of Venbrook Insurance Services.
Rose Conneely Named COO of SBLI
The Savings Bank Mutual Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts (SBLI) announces that Rose Conneely has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of the company at its headquarters in Woburn.
Ms. Conneely joined SBLI in 1999 as Senior Vice President of Underwriting and Customer Service. In her new position, she will assume management of IT in addition to her current responsibilities.
“I am pleased to congratulate Rose Conneely on her well-deserved promotion to Chief Operating Officer,” said SBLI President and CEO James Morgan. “Over the course of her career at SBLI, Rose has taken on oversight of a number of key corporate operating units under the Underwriting and Customer Service umbrellas, with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in everything she has undertaken. She is an exceptional leader, and I look forward to working with her in her new role as COO.”
A graduate of Regis College, Ms. Conneely served as an Assistant Vice President at New England Financial before joining SBLI.
Appointments
XS Brokers welcomes Ryan T.G. Darby as Vice President
XS Brokers (XSB), a leading independent insurance underwriting and wholesale brokerage group, has again expanded its team with the hiring of Ryan T. G. Darby as Vice President. As XSB continues its rapid growth and expansion, Ryan will be responsible for business development, growing and maintaining the XSB brand presence among retail agents in the New England states as well as New York and Ohio.
Ryan is an experienced senior commercial underwriter who has demonstrated performance in the excess and surplus lines industry. “Ryan is well-known for his expertise and ability and is a great fit for our team,” stated Eric Wirkus, Executive Vice President. “He enjoys the challenge of finding the right solution for each client and is committed to his agency partners.”
With over 15 years of commercial insurance and excess surplus lines experience, Ryan is fully prepared to employ a solutions based approach to his work at XS Brokers. His most recent role was Vice President of Commercial Underwriting at a regional independent wholesale broker. “My entire career has been spent building towards this high level opportunity,” stated Ryan. “I am very excited to be part of the team of great people at XSB and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Ryan has a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Bryant University with a focus in Applied Actuarial Mathematics.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Opens Office in Paris, Names François-Xavier d’Huart as Country Manager
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), in coordination with its affiliate, today announced that it has received its insurance license in France, established a new office in Paris, and appointed François-Xavier d’Huart as Country Manager.
“We are pleased to continue our strategic expansion in Europe, with our new office in France and François-Xavier leading our efforts to bring BHSI’s underwriting and claims acumen, financial strength, and long-term focus to the French market,” said Chris Colahan, President, BHSI in Europe and the UK. “François-Xavier brings extensive experience to BHSI, and I am so pleased to have him at the helm as we build our product line and team in Paris.”
Beginning immediately, BHSI is underwriting property, casualty, and executive & professional lines in France. The company expects to launch several other products in France in the months ahead.
François-Xavier comes to BHSI with 15 years of industry experience. He was most recently Head of Client and Broker Management for France at AXA XL (previously XL Catlin). Before that he was Chief Executive Officer, Office Lyonnais d’Assurances and Interassur, at SATEC, and Head of Marine Cargo & Hull for Asia at AXA Asia.
François-Xavier holds a master’s degree in Engineering from SUPELEC and a master’s degree in Economics and Management from the IFP School. He received his actuarial degree from Centre d’Etudes Actuarielles.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance’s global headquarters is based in Boston.
Company News
Travelers Named to the Best for Vets Employers List by Military Times
Travelers has been named to the 2019 Best for Vets Employers list by Military Times. The list includes 132 organizations that were selected based on a survey of company culture, veteran recruitment efforts and related policies. Travelers has been included on the list for six consecutive years.
“The skills that former and current military professionals bring to the table are invaluable,” said Diane Bengston, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Travelers. “We’re proud to support our veterans, National Guard members and reservists through employee programs and partnerships, and we are honored to once again be recognized as a Best for Vets employer.”
Travelers demonstrates its commitment to fostering a military-friendly culture through a number of initiatives, including:
- The company’s Military and Veterans Diversity Network, a resource group dedicated to promoting veterans’ career development and building awareness of veterans’ skills and experiences. Since its launch in 2013, the network has grown to more than 3,000 members nationally.
- Supporting American Corporate Partners, a national nonprofit focused on helping returning veterans discover their next career. The partnership began in 2010 and has helped to create life-changing mentorships between Travelers employees and hundreds of post-9/11 veterans.
- Focused recruitment efforts, where employees with previous military experience are dedicated to building relationships with national military and veteran organizations. This helps the company actively recruit transitioning service personnel for roles such as catastrophe responders, claim adjusters, customer service representatives, investigators, information technology specialists, nurses, risk control consultants and underwriters.
- Benefits for employees deployed on active duty, which include benefits continuation and leave-of-absence policies. The company provides full benefits and supplements employees’ military pay for up to five years of their deployment.
The company has also signed the Statement of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at both state and national levels, reaffirming its commitment to service members and their families.
Scholarship Opportunities
Soderberg Insurance Services, Inc. Announces the Frances R. Soderberg Scholarship
Soderberg Insurance Services, Inc. is offering an educational scholarship dedicated in memory of the agency’s co-founder Frances Soderberg. Frances was an active member of the North Shore community for over 50 years. In addition to her commitment to her family, she dedicated her life to improving the lives of those with special needs.
Her youngest daughter Karen was born with Down’s Syndrome. Mrs. Soderberg was instrumental in the integration of recreational and educational programs for children and young adults who are mentally disabled. The co-founder coordinated an instructional tennis program that ran for fifteen years. Mrs. Soderberg, along with the assistance of the special needs participants and North Shore community, organized an annual fundraiser for 25 consecutive years to raise money for the recreational, educational, and social programs for the special needs young adults.
The Frances R. Soderberg Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to an individual who shares her same passion to help those with special needs. This scholarship will be awarded to a current college student, or college bound student who shares her commitment for education of individuals with disabilities and improving their overall quality of life. Mrs. Soderberg believed that integration of the handicapped in society is beneficial to all. When a community embraces the disabled, the community evolves into a more passionate, caring place for all residents.
Preferential consideration will be given to North Shore residents. This resident must be a student pursuing a degree or other higher education/vocational career that will help those with disabilities. The selection committee would also like to see evidence of the student’s involvement with the special needs community. Whether it is in a hospital, school, or community event, the selection committee seeks evidence of the applicant’s commitment to this important line of work.
To be considered for the scholarship, please send a personal statement, including personal and professional goals to info@soderbergins.com. Applications will be accepted through August 1st. The award will be made in September 2019.
Kathryn Soderberg, CPCU
800-866-9363
Kathryn@soderbergins.com
