6 People on the Move

Liberty Mutual Names David Perez Chief Underwriting Officer of GRS

David Perez, chief underwriting officer, GRS, Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual Insurance announced David Perez has been named chief underwriting officer for Global Risk Solutions (GRS), Liberty Mutual’s global commercial and specialty lines reinsurer, which provides a range of traditional insurance, specialty and reinsurance risk solutions to businesses around the world. 

GRS president Dennis Langwell commented on the appointment: “I’m tremendously pleased to appoint David to this important position,” Langwell said.

“He has the underwriting and management expertise to bring value to our business partners and policyholders around the world. I thank James for his work to ensure a seamless transition and for his significant contributions to Liberty Mutual’s success over his 15-year career with the company.”

Perez will partner with underwriting leaders across GRS to drive strategy and operations to maximize Liberty Mutual’s value brings to brokers and customers across the globe. Perez most recently held the role of chief underwriting officer for North America.

Perez succeeds James Slaughter.

Summit Insurance Agency, Led by Kari Hegg, Joins Alliance of Independent Agencies

Kari Hegg, owner, Summit Insurance Agency

Midwest Insurance Agency Alliance, Inc. welcomed Summit Insurance Agency, LLC to its growing alliance of independently owned insurance agencies.

Summit Insurance Agency is owned by Kari Hegg and is a full-service insurance agency located in Moorhead, Minn. It serves the families and businesses in the surrounding Fargo, North Dakota and Minnesota communities. 

“I’m excited to partner with MIAA,” said Hegg. “Through this relationship, we are able to provide our clients with a much wider variety of insurance product and carrier options.” 

“We are pleased to have Summit Insurance join our growing network,” said Doug Meacham, MIAA president and chief operating officer. 

“The agency’s vision to provide the highest quality service while building meaningful relationships is in line with the standards of the alliance.”

Catharina Richter Named Global Head of Cyber Center of Competence

Catharina Richter, global head, Cyber Center of Competence, Allianz

Dr. Catharina Richter has been appointed global head of Cyber Center of Competence for Allianz Group. The appointment will be effective June 1. 

The Cyber Center of Competence (CoC) coordinates and steers cyber risk underwriting and governance across Allianz Group and is embedded into Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), the corporate insurance specialist of Allianz Group and provider of IT and cyber insurance solutions to businesses.

Richter will report directly to AGCS chief underwriting officer  and corporate and board member Thomas Sepp.

Richter is currently head of digital regulation for Allianz SE and has been responsible for developing regulatory strategy for digitalization on behalf of Allianz Group and shaping the regulatory and supervisory debate in the field of cyber.

A lawyer by trade, she joined Mondial Assistance (now Allianz Partners) in 2000 as general counsel.

She has also held roles as head of distribution & solutions legal Europe for Allianz Global Investors and head of regulatory management for Allianz SE. 

In her new role as global head of the Cyber Center of Competence, Richter succeeds Emy Donovan.

‘’Cyber is the top global business risk in the Allianz Risk Barometer 2020 and a significant opportunity for insurance, but at the same time it also requires central governance, steering and control to realize sustainable growth. I am delighted that someone of Catharina’s background and ability will now take the Cyber Center of Competence to the next stage,” commented Sepp.

Woodruff Sawyer Announces New Roles for Andy Barrengos and Stan Loar

Stan Loar, chairman emeritus, Woodruff Sawyer

Andy Barrengos, chief executive officer and chairman of the board, Woodruff Sawyer

Woodruff Sawyer, a large insurance brokerage in the U.S., announced that CEO Andy Barrengos has been appointed to the role of chief executive officer and chairman by Woodruff Sawyer’s Board of Directors.

Stan Loar will be honored with the role of chairman emeritus.

Loar has had a tremendous influence on the insurance agency during his 50-year career, according to Woodruff Sawyer. He has held key leadership roles in major industry organizations worldwide, including as a current board member of the World Federation of Insurance Intermediaries and of Bermuda captive PAR Ltd.

He is the former chairman of both Assurex Global and the Western Association of Insurance Brokers and was the treasurer and a board member of the National Association of Insurance Brokers. 

Loar also served as a member of the board for CIAB for several decades. In 2014, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (IIABC) honored Loar with the Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award. Loar is also an underwriting member of Lloyd’s of London.  

Loar joined Woodruff Sawyer and its board in 1976, became the company’s chief executive officer in 1995, vice chair in 2008 and chairman in 2013. 

Barrengos joined Woodruff Sawyer in 1996 and was appointed CEO in 2016. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with and benefit from great leaders at Woodruff Sawyer and learning from Stan over the last 25 years has been invaluable,” said Barrengos.

“I look forward to continuing to work with him as Chair Emeritus.  The role will allow the Woodruff Sawyer Board to continue to benefit from Stan’s valuable insights, expertise and experience.”

Chubb Appoints Chief Underwriting Officer, North America Retail Commercial P&C

Michelle McLaughlin, chief underwriting officer, retail commercial property and casualty insurance division, Chubb North America

Chubb has appointed Michelle McLaughlin as chief underwriting officer of its North America retail commercial property and casualty insurance division, which serves middle market and small businesses through 48 offices in the United States and Canada.

McLaughlin will guide the business lines’ underwriting strategies and authority, as well as general underwriting management. 

Based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., McLaughlin will report to the division presidents of both the company’s small- and middlemmarket business lines.

“Michelle’s deep understanding of our business and proven leadership experience position her perfectly to meet the underwriting and servicing needs of our small- and middle-market commercial distribution partners and customers throughout North America,” said Ben Rockwell, vice president, Chubb Group, division president, Chubb Middle Market.

“Our small business division is focused on innovation, and I look forward to working with Michelle to ensure we continue to provide superior quality solutions and services to agents and customers alike,” said James Williamson, vice president, Chubb Group, division president, Chubb Small Business.

McLaughlin most recently served as executive vice president and property and marine manager, commercial insurance, Chubb North America.

She began her career at Chubb in 1992 as an intern in the company’s internal audit department, and during the course of her career, she has held a number of underwriting leadership roles with increasing responsibilities. &