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intheknow

>> Lexington Insurance Company, Boston, Massachusetts, has increased capacity of its BioChem Shield product from $10 million to $25 million. Because of the risks of biological and chemical attacks, Lexington believes the increased capacity against these perils is warranted. BioChemShield is an endorsement to Lexington’s property insurance that is offered, in most cases, on all policies that provide coverage for terrorism, including attacks using biological or chemical weapons.

>> Grange Insurance, Columbus, Ohio, has been awarded the 2007 Insurance Standard of Excellence Award from the Web Marketing Association. The provider was ranked in the Top 250 companies in the 2007 InformationWeek 500 list. Grange was recently recognized by Applied Systems, an insurance technology company, for its interface leadership and innovation toward real-time rating and servicing transactions.

>> The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), Tampa, Florida, named Rod Matthews – underwriting vice president, property/casualty for State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Bloomington, Illinois – as chairman of the board. Matthews was previously the IBHS board’s vice chairman and chairman of its executive committee.

>> Merchants Mutual Insurance Company, Buffalo, New York, announced that it has formed a subsidiary – Merchants Preferred Insurance Co. It started accepting commercial and personal lines business in Ohio effective January 1, 2008. Merchants Preferred will serve preferred risk individuals and businesses.

>> PEMCO Insurance Company, Seattle, Washington, was recognized for its call center customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates for the third consecutive year. PEMCO’s call center passed a detailed audit of its recruiting, training, employee incentives, management roles and responsibilities, and quality assurance capabilities to become certified.

>> Key Risk Insurance Company, Greensboro, North Carolina, named Mike Marcus regional director for the Carolinas. Marcus will be responsible for the company’s profitability and growth in his area.

>> Lititz Mutual Insurance Company, Lititz, Pennsylvania, announced leadership changes that took effect in January. The company’s board of directors named Henry H. Gibbel as chairman and CEO and Henry R. Gibbel as president and COO. Henry H. Gibbel replaced Clyde W. Horst, who held the position since 1987. John R. Gibbel was re-elected vice president and general counsel, and was named corporate secretary. Robert Dodds was elected vice president, legal/compliance. He will also serve in the same position for Lititz Mutual’s affiliate companies: Penn Charter Mutual Insurance Company and Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Mutual Insurance Company.

>> Wausau Insurance, Wausau, Wisconsin, appointed Susan Doyle as its new president and COO in January. She previously held the senior vice president position in 2004 and has served as executive vice president for field operations since 2005. Doyle replaced Mark Fiebrink who announced his retirement last November.

>> The headquarters expansion for Grange Insurance, Columbus, Ohio, is ecologically friendly. The “green” project will bring all Grange employees to one location by early 2009. A raised-floor system will allow each employee to control airspace in a cubicle and also reduce the amount of fan power needed to circulate air. High-efficiency glass will maximize daylight. And automatically adjusting sunshades will allow natural light to be used without heating the inside of the building. A new garage and walkway will also be included in the expansion.

>> Pekin Insurance Company, Pekin, Illinois, announced in February that Gordon Walker, who has been with the company since 1970, took over as CEO and chairman. He replaces Paul Tornatore, who retired after more than 30 years with the company. Walker had been the president of Pekin’s property/casualty division before being elected as CEO and chairman at the Farmers Automobile Insurance Association’s annual meeting in mid-February.