Philadelphia Insurance Companies Names New Leader of Surety Division

Michael Cundiff, senior vice president, Surety, Philadelphia Insurance Companies

Commercial property, casualty and professional liability insurance company Philadelphia Insurance Companies have announced the promotion of Michael Cundiff.

Cundiff will leave the role of vice president of Surety and assume the role of senior vice president. He succeeds Ed Titus, who began the division in 2011. Titus will take on the role of executive advisor.

Cundiff came to Philadelphia Insurance Companies when the Surety division was launched in July 2011.

“We’re pleased that Mike will carry on the stable leadership he helped delivery with Ed, since establishing our Surety team eight years ago,” said executive vice president and chief underwriting officer John Glomb. “The strong performance and reliable service of PHLY Surety is a valuable product for our producer partners and customers.”

“I’ve been working in the surety industry for over two decades and I wish that I came to PHLY 20 years ago,” shared Cundiff. “We’re poised to continue our steady growth as we continue to build out our division.”

Cundiff graduated from the University of San Diego with a business degree.

Rising Medical Solutions Names Rachel Fikes as Chief Experience Officer

Rachel Fikes, chief experience officer, Rising Medical Solutions

Rising Medical Solutions named Rachel Fikes as chief experience officer. The move was an effort to further the company’s customer experience and shareholder value. She was formerly the vice president of marketing.

One of her first endeavors within her new role was moderating a session at the National Workers’ Compensation Conference® in Las Vegas this past November.

“Even happy employees cannot deliver what they don’t understand,” says Fikes. “Keeping our customers’ priorities at the forefront of our employees’ priorities elevates the experience of both constituencies.”

A 20-year insurance services and communications veteran, Fikes leads Rising’s Workers’ Compensation Benchmarking Study, a national research program she has piloted since its inception in 2013. Now the industry’s largest survey of claims leaders, the annual study uses its data findings to advance claims management within workers’ compensation.

Jeff Grange Joins Argo Group as Executive Vice President

 Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, announced the appointment of Jeff Grange, executive vice president, U.S Operations.

Grange will lead Argo Casualty, Argo Pro, Argo Insurance, Rockwood and Argo Cyber, taking responsibility for U.S. claims. He will report to interim chief executive officer Kevin Rehnberg.

“We will benefit from Jeff’s leadership experience and deep background in specialty insurance,” said Rehnberg. “This structure focuses on maintaining operational excellence and providing additional senior leadership for Argo’s growing, profitable U.S. segment.”

With more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, Grange has over 30 years of insurance industry experience. He was most recently with QBE North America, where he served as president of specialty and commercial insurance and as global head of the company’s trade credit and surety businesses.

Grange has a Bachelor of Science in human physiology and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from McGill University in Montreal.

Breckenridge Insurance Services Adds Two New Vice Presidents and Brokers

Lisa Maize, vice president/broker, Breckenridge Insurance Services

John Hayes, vice president/broker, Breckenridge Insurance Services

Breckenridge Insurance Services, a national wholesale insurance brokerage, is pleased to announce the addition of two vice presidents/brokers with the recent hiring of John Hayes and Lisa Maize.

Hayes is a nearly thirty-year industry executive. He will be based in the newly opened Atlanta area office. His most recent position was with Nationwide as a middle market territory leader for Georgia.

Maize brings more than twenty years of industry sales and marketing leadership experience. She will be based in Houston, Texas. She was previously a senior broker at RLA Insurance Intermediaries with a focus on casualty and environmental liability.

“I’m pleased to welcome John and Lisa and their diverse talents and shared industry passion to the team. Their skills will not only serve agents extremely well, but also be integral to our strategic growth efforts across Breckenridge,” stated Trevor Pierce, president of the Breckenridge Insurance Services brokerage and binding division.

“The additional opening of a second Atlanta-area office will allow for continued growth in the southeast and is part of our expansion and hiring strategy nationally.”

Berkley Construction Professional Acquires Raymond Bustamante and Edward Sheiffele

Berkley Construction Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers has extended its construction professional and pollution marketplace, with the promotions of Raymond F.H. Bustamante to managing director and Edward L. Sheiffele, Jr. to executive vice president.

“Ray and Ed have both played integral roles in Berkley Construction Professional’s growth from a start-up in 2015 to a stable, thriving presence within professional liability insurance for the construction industry,” says Stephen L. Porcelli, president of Berkley Alliance Managers.

“It is extremely satisfying to know that their combined vision, strategic expertise, creativity and underwriting experience will be at the forefront of our continued expansion and success for years to come.”

Bustamante and Sheiffele will work directly with Porcelli to guide the organization’s business development to meet changing market demands.

An industry spokesperson, Bustamante is recognized for originating many of the owners and contractors protective insurance coverages recognized industrywide as the preferred approaches to underwriting project-specific design and contractors professional liability. He is a key representative of professional liability insurance in the construction industry

Sheiffele, with over two decades of industry experience will be more deeply involved in the management of the company’s expenses, production, budgeting, planning and general administrative functions.

Jamey Schoenhard, underwriter, specialty programs, Breckenridge Insurance Group

Blue River Underwriters Welcomes Jamey Schoenhard at New Location

Blue River Underwriters, a company of Breckenridge Insurance Group, has welcomed underwriter Jamey Schoenhard to the specialty property program team. Schoenhard will join the newly opened office in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Schoenhard was last a commercial property underwriter at Kinsale Insurance and has more than ten years of underwriting experience. Prior to Kinsale, Schoenhard worked in Chicago for DUAL RE America and Arch Specialty Insurance Company.

“Jamey’s reputation for service and sound account management is well known in our space and we’re pleased to welcome him to as an integral part of the team and our expansion efforts,” stated Michael Marks, vice president, underwriter of the specialty property program. “He’s joining us at a great time as we have a lot of momentum going into the new year,” he added.

“I share the Blue River team’s dedication to responsive service and problem solving. With the support of our select carrier partners, we look forward to a productive future with the agents, brokers and the insureds we serve,” remarked Schoenhard of his hiring. &