8 People on the Move

Global Risk Solutions names an assistance vice president of business development, Oneglobal Hong Kong gets approval from Insurance Authority; all of this and more in this edition of People on the Move.
By: | August 17, 2020

Suzanne Ziemann Named AVP of Business Development for Global Risk Solutions

Suzanne Ziemann, assistant vice president of business development, P&C solutions, Global Risk Solutions, Inc.

Global Risk Solutions, Inc., provider of a diverse range of claims adjusting and environmental risk management solutions, is continuing to grow with the addition of an experienced business development executive, Suzanne Ziemann.

Ziemann has joined GRS as assistant vice president of business development in GRS’ property & casualty solutions division.

She has extensive career experience in claims operations and management. Prior to joining GRS, Ziemann was assistant vice president and head of primary casualty claims at AXIS Capital, where she was responsible for an internal domestic primary casualty adjusting team as well as third party administration partners. 

Ziemann is based in Atlanta and will work with Rob Edwards, assistant vice president of business development, who joined GRS in February and is based in Providence, Rhode Island. 

Ziemann and Edwards report to Falin McMellon, senior vice president of business development at GRS.

“GRS is excited to welcome Suzanne to our team. The experience and talent she and Rob have in building relationships and providing exceptional service will accelerate our growth strategy and enable GRS to deliver our solutions to an even broader set of clients,” McMellon said

Oneglobal Broking Hong Kong Gets Insurance Authority Approval

Oneglobal Broking announced the establishment of Oneglobal Group Asia and that its first operating company, Oneglobal Broking Hong Kong Ltd, has received regulatory approval from the Insurance Authority. 

Jonathan Palmer-Brown, chairman, Oneglobal Group and Oneglobal Group Asia

Anthony Langridge, chairman, Oneglobal Hong Kong

Asian broking leader Anthony Langridge has been named chairman of Oneglobal Hong Kong, reporting to Jonathan Palmer-Brown, chairman of Oneglobal Group Asia.

Langridge brings with him deep relationships with senior business leaders throughout Asia and will be instrumental in driving the growth of Oneglobal across the continent.

He most recently held the role as chairman of JLT Asia, having previously been deputy chairman of Aon Asia. Langridge will be joined by Sara Garland, executive director of Oneglobal Hong Kong.

Sara Garland, executive director, Oneglobal Hong Kong

Palmer-Brown commented, “This is an exciting moment for Oneglobal as we extend our reach into Asia. I’m proud that we are one of the first broking businesses in Hong Kong to be authorized by the Insurance Authority, which is testament to our strong business plan and outstanding leadership.

“Anthony Langridge is known to many Asian business leaders and his appointment is a vital building block in our campaign to grow across Asia, which will see new colleague and location announcements in the coming months,” Palmer-Brown added.

“Oneglobal will fill a gap in the Asian insurance markets by bringing personal and individualized service back to client relationships,” Landridge said. 

“We will be working right where our clients are across the continent and encouraging like-minded individuals who share our vision of reinvigorating global broking to come on board as we build Oneglobal in Asia together,” he said.

I am delighted Sara Garland will join us on completion of her current contractual obligations. She is a highly experienced broker, respected by market leaders across Asia and will further strengthen the team as we build out our Asian business.”

Seasoned Insurance Coverage Litigator Courtney Murphy Joins Hinshaw in New York

Courtney E Murphy, partner, Global Insurance Services Practice Group, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Courtney E. Murphy has joined the U.S. law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in the Global Insurance Services Practice Group in the New York office. Murphy’s primary focus will be on evaluating, litigating, and arbitrating all aspects of complex first party property and liability insurance coverage disputes.

Murphy has a national practice with significant experience in handling insurance claims involving catastrophic loss and damage, as well as associated business income loss related to hurricanes, tornados, hail, flooding, fire and other natural disasters. 

Murphy advises boiler/machinery and builders’ risk claims. 

“Our insurance clients continue to face increased global risk vectors, including COVID-19 coverage, cyber and privacy issues, said Scott Seaman, global co-chair of the firm’s Insurance Services Practice Group. 

“Courtney is an extremely knowledgeable and highly regarded practitioner, and her addition will be a great asset to our clients in the areas of first-party property insurance coverage, and reinsurance.” He added, “The addition of Courtney and other outstanding lawyers to our team this year further strengthens our New York-based insurance coverage capabilities and is part of our commitment to providing first-rate legal services and bespoke solutions for our insurance company clients.”

“With its robust national platform and deep bench of insurance professionals, Hinshaw enhances and compliments my existing practice, which remains focused on providing insurance-based clients with a level of service that is time-conscious, detail-oriented and results-based.”

Guy Carpenter Appoints Canada President and Chief Executive Officer

Peter Askew, president and chief executive officer, Guy Carpenter, Canada

Guy Carpenter & Company, global risk and reinsurance specialist and a business of Marsh & McLennan Companies, announced the appointment of Peter Askew as president and chief executive officer of Guy Carpenter’s Canadian business.

Askew will be responsible for Guy Carpenter’s reinsurance broking activities in Canada, which includes both its Montreal and Toronto offices. He will focus on further expanding the depth and scope of solutions available to Canadian insurance providers.

Donald Callahan has stepped down from the role of president and CEO of Guy Carpenter in Canada after 20 years but will continue to support Askew. 

With over 25 years of experience in the Canadian (re)insurance industry and having held numerous leadership roles during his career, Askew brings a deep market insight and client understanding to the role. Most recently, he was managing director, Guy Carpenter & Company, Ltd. in Canada. 

“I am delighted that Peter has taken the helm of our Canadian operations and that Don will continue to contribute to the success of our clients,” commented John Trace, chief executive officer, Guy Carpenter, North America. 

Thomas Ricks Joins Lockton Pacific Series, Benefits Practice 

Thomas Ricks has joined the Benefits Practice of Lockton Pacific Series as vice president, data analytics.

He brings experience and expertise in actuarial and health care data analytics to expand Lockton Pacific Series’ consultative solutions and existing robust suite of tools including InfoLock, the company’s proprietary data warehouse.

One of his key objectives is to aggregate information from disparate sources into real-time analytics and diagnostic tools, including data visualization dashboards, to help employers make data-driven decisions, optimize their employee benefit plan design, realize better health outcomes for their employees and better control health plan costs.

“With unimaginable amounts of data being created daily, employers run the risk of inertia or spiraling into endless reviews of data elements that can lead to nowhere,” said Ricks. “Too much data can be meaningless without minimizing the noise, measuring the right indicators and extracting actionable data tied to your plan’s objectives.”

Grant Owens Named Chief Product & Underwriting Officer, Openly

Grant Owens, chief product & underwriting officer, Openly

Openly, a homeowners insurance platform, announced the appointment of Grant Owens as chief product & underwriting officer. Owens will lead the product team and product development.

Owens joins from Willis Re, where he served as executive vice president. Previously, he was an actuary for Liberty Mutual.

“Grant has a proven track record of developing and deploying innovative platforms and products,” said Ty Harris, co-founder and CEO of Openly.

“He also brings a wealth of experience working with reinsurers, which is a critical part of what makes Openly possible. Most importantly, he has worked at large companies and yet exhibits that innovative, scrappy mindset that is required at an early stage company like Openly. We feel fortunate to have him leading the charge as we build out or products for independent agents and consumers across the country.”

“We are living in a time where customers and independent agents demand a tech-forward insurance product, and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to lead that charge,” commented Owens. &

Emily Spennato is a former staff writer with Risk & Insurance.

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