MedRisk Appoints Dr. Steven Z. George to Its International Scientific Advisory Board

MedRisk, a managed care organization dedicated to the physical rehabilitation of injured workers, announced that Steven Z. George, director of musculoskeletal research for the Duke Clinical Research Institute and vice chair of research for orthopedic surgery, will join the International Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB).

Steven Z. George, International Scientific Advisory Board, MedRisk

ISAB is an elite panel of world-renowned specialists in physical medicine and workers’ compensation who oversee clinical aspects of MedRisk’s medical management programs.

George’s main research area is in chronic pain prediction and mitigation. He is considered an expert on lower-back pain and has received multiple awards from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Pain Society and the International Association for the Study of Pain.

The National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, APTA and others have supported his research with grants.

George serves on the editorial boards for Physical Therapy, Journal of Pain and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well.

ClearPath Mutual Fills Brand New Production Underwriter Role

Kim Sellers, production underwriter, ClearPath Mutual

ClearPath Mutual Insurance Company has appointed Kim Sellers as the company’s first production underwriter. Sellers will be based out of Burns, Tennessee and will also handle agents in Kentucky. She most recently held the position of WC production underwriter at FFVA Mutual Insurance.

In her new role, Sellers will be responsible for writing new business and retaining quality renewal business, along with managing and building positive, professional relationships with agency partners.

She will evaluate business submissions and renewal accounts to determine acceptability and the appropriate course of action based on company underwriting guidelines and risk selection standards. Sellers will travel to agencies and insureds on a regular basis to perform field underwriting and assist with sales presentations.

“I am very excited to have Kim on board at ClearPath as our first production underwriter,” said Bob Korsan, vice president of underwriting, ClearPath Mutual.

“Her extensive knowledge of the Tennessee and Kentucky insurance markets, combined with her underwriting and marketing skills, made her the obvious choice to play a key role in our growth plans.”

Cover Genius Names Patrick Young Head of Travel Partnerships, Americas

Global insurance distribution platform Cover Genius has announced the hiring of insurance industry veteran, Patrick Young. Young will serve as Cover Genius’s head of travel partnerships, Americas.

Young will oversee the expansion of the company’s relationships with the travel industry’s largest brands in the U.S. and Latin America.

He will help further the company’s unique capability offerings for travel brands, including global insurance coverage, instant global claim payments in more than 90 currencies, personalized bundles and price flexibility.

“Patrick brings a significant amount of experience to his role from his extensive work in the travel industry,” said Angus McDonald, co-founder and CEO of Cover Genius.

“Having solidified unique partnerships with large travel groups and OTAs such as Booking Holdings, Patrick will be a vital asset as we grow our travel business across the U.S. and LATAM regions, helping travel brands create a scalable and customer-centric insurance offering that provides customers with a tailored and flexible insurance experience.”

Before joining Cover Genius, Young was a senior vice president at Cross Country. Prior to that, he served as senior vice president of e-commerce sales and strategic partnerships at Allianz Travel.

Cover Genius provides protection for residents of all 50 states and over 60 countries.

Assurex Promotes Dean Hildebrandt to New Role as President 

Dean Hildebrandt, president, Assurex

Assurex Global, the world’s largest privately held commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage group, announced the promotion of Dean Hildebrandt from vice president, North America, to president.

The company’s preceding president, Jim Hackbarth, will continue to serve as chief executive officer.

Hildebrandt joined Assurex Global in 2019 after serving as the president and chief executive officer of Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting, a subsidiary of Associated Banc-Corp.

“Dean will play a key role in the ongoing success of our 65-year-old Partnership,” Assurex Global Chairman Andy Sloan said.

“With continuous change ahead, we are looking forward to having his leadership guide us through our strategic plan and into a successful, long-term future.”

Willis Towers Watson Promotes Nancy Woode, Head of Property Broking

Willis Towers Watson has announced the promotion of Nancy Woode to head of property broking in North America.

Woode previously served as a senior broker since joining the company in 2009.

In this role, Woode will lead the company’s North America Property Insurance Risk Management business, which delivers tailored, analytically-driven property solutions for clients, regardless of geography.

She will report to Joe Peiser, global head of broking and be based out of Atlanta.

“We’re thrilled to appoint Nancy to this critical position, as she is a world-class property broking leader,” said Peiser. “Her deep knowledge of complex property risks and catastrophic exposure makes her well suited to lead this team. She will add great value to our property broking client portfolio.”

FM Global Appoints New Leaders for EMEA, Asia Pacific and Atlanta

David M. Johnson, operations, senior vice president, USA

Philip Johnson, senior vice president, EMEA

Alex Tadmoury, senior vice president, Asia Pacific

As a result of the forthcoming retirement of Stefano Tranquillo, senior vice president, division manager EMEA/Asia Pacific, who has served nearly 35 years, FM Global is undergoing some new leadership appointments.

All of the appointments were internal promotions.

Philip Johnson has been appointed senior vice president, EMEA division manager, and will be based at FM Global’s Luxembourg office.

He most recently served as the operations senior vice president, London operations manager.

Since joining the company in 1995, Johnson has held various positions in the UK, including working and managing in engineering and client service roles.

Ziad Alex S. Tadmoury has been appointed senior vice president, Asia Pacific division manager, and will be based at FM Global’s Singapore office.

Previously he served as operations senior vice president, manager, compliance and real estate at FM Global’s corporate offices in Johnston, Rhode Island, USA. Tadmoury started with the company 29 years ago working in claims and reinsurance.

David M. Johnson has been appointed operations senior vice president, Atlanta, USA operations manager and will move from FM Global’s Singapore office. Since joining the company in 1990 as a loss prevention consultant, he has held various positions in Sweden and the United States.

Goonetilleke Leading Launch of Zurich Canada’s Business Travel Program 

Sanjeewa Goonetilleke, assistant vice president, travel insurance, Zurich Canada

Sanjeewa Goonetilleke has joined Zurich Canada as assistant vice president, travel insurance. He will be responsible for growing Zurich’s personal leisure and business travel accident products.

He brings more than a decade of travel insurance experience to the role. Prior to joining Zurich, he spent three years at Manulife as business development manager. Prior to that, he was the director of sales for Eastern and Western Canada with AIG Travel Guard.

“With his experience and deep knowledge of the market, Sanjeewa is well equipped to lead Zurich’s travel insurance business while we continue to stregthen our relationships with key distribution partners across the country,” said Greg Irvine, head of specialty products.

Goonetilleke will be based out of the company’s Toronto office and will report to Irvine. &