INDUSTRY NEWS
KANSAS MARKETPLACE HEADLINES
UFG APPOINTS STEPHENSON COO
United Fire Group Inc . ( UFG ) has announced the appointment of Julie Stephenson as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer , effective January 30 . She succeeds the company ’ s longtime COO , Michael Wilkins , who retired from Cedar Rapids , Iowa-based UFG at the end of September .
Stephenson has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry , most recently serving as global head of casualty reinsurance at Swiss Re . Prior to joining Swiss Re in 2021 , she held the positions of chief operating officer-middle market and commercial chief underwriting officer at CNA Insurance and global liability manager for Chubb Insurance .
EIGHT KANSAS AGENCIES JOIN CAA
Combined Agents of America ( CAA ) – a privately held aggregator group based in Austin , Texas – has announced the additions of eight new partner agencies from Kansas to the organization . The group will now be comprised of 94 agencies across nine states and represent over $ 2B in total P & C written premium .
The new Kansas members and their primary locations :
• Al Shank Insurance - Liberal
• Kellerman Insurance - Holton
• Porter Spears & Bundy Ins . Agency - Ottawa
• Raleigh Insurance Agency - Little River
• Renn & Company - Wellington
• Saylor Insurance Service - Sabetha
• Truly Insurance - LaCygne
• Tyner Insurance Group - Manhattan
A . J . Lovitt , CEO of CAA , said of the additions , “ We are excited to be adding these new partners to the
CAA family . The addition of several former members of Bainswest and other exceptional agencies allows us to bring a wealth of additional expertise into the organization . The success CAA has achieved is all thanks to the quality agencies we have within the group . The addition of these latest members allows us to increase membership in Kansas with wellrespected agencies . As one of the only 100 % memberowned insurance networks in the industry , it is always exciting to add so many quality individuals to our ownership group .”
NEW CHURCH MUTUAL PRESIDENT
Church Mutual Insurance Company , has announced the promotiton of Alan S . Ogilvie to president of the company . Rich Poirier , current president and CEO , will retain his CEO responsibilities . Ogilvie also will join Church Mutual ’ s Board of Directors . Ogilvie will assume the additional role of CEO on Jan . 1 , 2024 , when Poirier transitions to senior advisor . Ogilvie will spend time at all Church Mutual ’ s offices , including its headquarters in Merrill , Wisconsin .
KID RECOVERS $ 7M FOR CONSUMERS
The Kansas Insurance Department announced it has recovered more than $ 7.6 million for Kansans in 2022 , the largest single-year recovery in department history .
Funds considered “ recovered ” are calculated when department staff assists individuals in need of support during their insurance claims process . If a dispute arises between a policyholder and an insurance company , regardless of the type of insurance , the department investigates the complaint with the consumer and the company and works to ensure the insurance policy is followed and benefits are paid accordingly .
In 2022 the department reported 2,794 complaints , of which 30 % involved auto and another 16 % home . •
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2023
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