intheknow

Mariposa Insurance Services announced its new senior advisor Paul Thompson, who brings more than 38 years of experience to the company. Retiring from Nationwide Insurance in 2005 and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio in April 2007, Thompson agreed to take the advisor position with Mariposa on September 17, 2007.

Swiss Re launched the Climate Adaptation Development Programme on September 27, 2007, with the goal of developing and implementing climate risk indices for African countries. Swiss Re partnered with non-profit organization Millennium Promise and International Research Institute for Climate and Society to launch this program.

Skybus Airlines and Nationwide collaborated in new ad campaign that will plaster advertisements on the sides of aircrafts. Columbus, Ohio-based Skybus Airlines and Nationwide collaborated in April 2007 to bring the United States its first “branded airplane.” Skybus is the only known airline to offer this kind of advertising right now.

The Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging (PANPHA) honored Henry H. Gibbel with the Trustee of the Year Distinguished Service Award. Gibbel was presented the award at PANPHA’s annual meeting in June 2007. Gibbel received this honor in part because of his service on the board of directors for Brethren Village, a Lancaster, Pa., retirement community. He has had a presence on the board since 1969, and currently serves as chairman.

Aon appointed Randy Wada as its chief diversity officer for Asia Pacific on October 3, 2007. Wada, who has been the national managing director for the Japan Group America since 1997, will also serve on the Aon global diversity advisory board.

Munich Re announced a new strategy for growth that will begin as of January 2008 and is supposed to increase direct and broker reinsurance and will be implemented by a brand new management team. This new strategy, which is to be client-centric, will have some structural changes in order to support it. The Broker Market and Specialty Market divisions will continue to operate as is, but the National Clients and Regional Clients divisions are both new.

Southwestern Insurance Information Service elected David Sommer, president of Germania Farm Mutual Insurance, as its new chairman on Oct. 10, 2007. Sommer adds this position to a list of others: director of NAMIC’s Property Casualty Conference board, vice president of the Texas Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, treasurer of Camp for All, and board chairman of the Blinn College Foundation.

AMICO names former-CPA Ronald C. Parisi as its new national program director for CAMICO. The CPA-owned professional liability insurance and risk management services provider appointed Parisi to this position in October 2007. As national program director, Parisi will work with CPA firms that have professional liability risk.

Munich Re acquired U.S. insurer Midland Co. for more than $1 billion on October 16, 2007. Munich Re plans to use the acquisition of the Cincinnati, Ohio-based Midland as a part of its plan to profit and grow in the world’s largest reinsurance market.

Amica Mutual topped the 2007 Homeowners Insurance Satisfaction Ratings, according to J.D. Power and Associates. This is the sixth consecutive year Amica has been No. 1 in the ratings. Erie, Cincinnati, State Farm, COUNTRY, Auto Club of Southern California, and American Family followed Amica in the satisfaction rankings.

AIG has launched a trucking unit, AIG Transportation Solutions, which will provide coverage to businesses ranging from major fleets to owner/operators. Coverage includes workers’ compensation, general liability, automotive liability, excess automobile liability, environmental/pollution, excess casualty, and occupational accident insurance. AIG Transportation Solutions began its launch in five cities – Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

Munich Re has planned to provide new risk management tools because of the rising number of natural catastrophes. With the help of NatCatSERVICE and other geographical information systems, the German-based reinsurance company has developed some tools that will help it assess risks and prepare natural catastrophe analyses for individual companies.

Austin Mutual announced the purchase of new home office site in Maple Grove, Minn. The site is located just north of the new North Memorial Hospital, and will be in the heart of the most dynamic commercial developments in the Twin Cities area. The anticipated date to occupy the building is October 2008.

PEMCO Insurance took the top spot in the GMA Research consumer survey once again. The independent GMA Research survey asked 400 randomly selected households in the Puget Sound region which company or brand in several different categories is the best overall, based on factors like customer service, product quality, value, and selection. Seventeen percent of the respondents chose PEMCO as the best overall auto insurance company.

PEMCO has topped the past four GMA Research surveys (tying for first in 2005), which were conducted independently in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007.

Liberty Mutual announced plans to add 30 sales representatives in Massachusetts – a 50 percent increase – by the time new insurance regulations and competitive pricing begin on April 1, 2008. Starting on January 1, 2008, Liberty Mutual will renew Massachusetts policies that carry collision coverage – and will write new ones – with its Liberty Advantage endorsement at no additional cost, giving drivers such previously unavailable benefits as improved car replacement coverage, better rental car coverage, enhanced towing and labor coverage, and fully covered replacement of damaged mechanical parts.

AIG Expanded its Defense Base Act Medical Network to Iraq, Bahrain, and Qatar in October 2007. Expanded services include air and ground transportation, hotel facilities for those receiving out-patient care, and assistance with necessary customs and immigration matters as it relates to travel for medical treatment.

Liberty Mutual Created Specialty Lines Unit to bring dedicated focus to growing markets in response to growing demand for its commercial specialty lines products, The company announced in November. The new unit brings together Umbrella and Excess Liability and Alternative Programs. The company believes that bringing together these specialty lines businesses will enable Liberty Mutual to expand its focus in these markets, further develop its expertise, and advance its ability to meet the needs of the market.

Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Monday, January 21, 2008 4:00:18 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.