Executive Changes
Selective Insurance CEO Retires; Successor Named

Selective Insurance Group Inc. has named John J. Marchioni to succeed Gregory E. Murphy, who is retiring.

Marchioni, the company's president and chief operating officer since 2013, will assume the CEO post Feb. 1.

Murphy, who has been CEO since 1999 and chairman of the Selective board since 2000, will assume the newly created role of executive chairman of the Selective board upon his retirement, the company said.

Marchioni has more than 21 years at Selective and has worked across all areas of the operation.

In May 2019, Marchioni was elected to Selective's board of directors. He joined Selective in 1998 as a government affairs specialist, was promoted to assistant vice president of government affairs in 2000, and was named vice president of government affairs in 2003.

He was appointed vice president and strategic business unit leader in 2004 and senior vice president, director of personal lines and flood in 2005.

In 2007, he was promoted to executive vice president, chief field operations leader and, in 2008, executive vice president, insurance operations, the company said in a statement.

—Barbara Edwards

Liberty Mutual Vice Chairman Kelley to Retire

Kevin H. Kelley, Liberty Mutual Insurance vice chairman, global risk solutions, was to retire at the end of 2019.

In 2017, Kelley joined Liberty Mutual following the company's acquisition of Ironshore Inc. where he was chief executive officer. Kelley led Ironshore from its start-up beginnings into a global excess and surplus specialty lines insurance company. Kelley also expanded Ironshore's international and U.S. presence with a network of offices offering diverse, specialty insurance coverages throughout its global platform.

Prior to joining Ironshore, Kelley served as chairman of the board and CEO of Lexington Insurance Co. from 1997-2008. Kelley was also executive vice president of AIG Property Casualty Group, president of AIG Domestic Personal Lines, and director of C.V. Starr &Co. and Starr International Cos.

AIG Names Head of Multinational, General Insurance

American International Group Inc. has named Allison Barrett as global head of multinational, general insurance.

Barrett will be responsible for driving the execution of general insurance's multinational strategic plan and lead the delivery of the company's capabilities across product lines to AIG's global clients and distribution partners. She will be based in New York.

Barrett joins AIG from Willis Towers Watson, where she was managing director and global head of the company's financial institutions business within the financial, executive and professional risk specialty group since 2017. She joined Willis Towers Watson in 2013 as a senior vice president, FINEX. Barrett was also vice president in Marsh's U.S. financial and professional liability practice.

Markel Chairman of Board, a Former CEO, to Retire

Alan I. Kirshner, executive chairman and chairman of the board, will retire after the company's 2020 annual meeting of shareholders and will be succeeded by Steven A. Markel.

Kirshner, who has been with Markel 60 years and will be 85 this year, is to leave his role on May 11, and at that time will be named to the honorary position of chairman emeritus.

Kirshner joined Markel in 1960 and moved quickly through a number of leadership roles with increasing responsibility. He joined the board in 1978 and became chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1986, the same year Markel became a public company. He served as CEO through 2015 and moved into his executive chairman role in 2016.

Steve Markel has been with Markel since 1975 and, alongside Kirshner and Anthony Markel, has been a member of its senior leadership team since the company went public in 1986. He has served as vice chairman since 1992 and has been a director since 1978.

Phoenix Group Names New Group CEO as Bannister Retires

The board of Phoenix Group Holdings plc said Andy Briggs will succeed Chief Executive Officer Clive Bannister, who is retiring.

Briggs was to transition into his new role on Jan. 1. Bannister will retire on March 10, following the publication of the group's full-year results and to ensure a smooth transition. Briggs also will be appointed to the board of Phoenix Group Holdings subject to regulatory approval.

Briggs has more than 30 years of insurance industry leadership experience. He joins Phoenix from Aviva plc, where he was CEO U.K. until earlier this year. Briggs was also group chief executive of Friends Life, the listed insurer, managing director of Scottish Widows, chief executive of the retirement income division at Prudential and chairman of the Association of British Insurers.

Bannister joined Phoenix in February 2011. He was the architect of a series of successful acquisitions, culminating in the purchase of Standard Life Assurance in 2018.

Lockton Names New CEO as Ron Lockton Moves Into Chairman Post

Lockton has named Peter Clune as chief executive officer to succeed Ron Lockton, who is being named chairman of the firm.

Clune, who will step into his new role on May 1, will become one of the few non-Lockton family members to be CEO in the firm's 53-year history. He has been with the firm for 13 years and most recently served as president and chief operating officer, U.S.

Ron Lockton will take his new role as chairman on May 1, succeeding David Lockton, who will step down as chairman after 18 years, but will maintain his presence with a new focus. Ron Lockton is the son of founder Jack Lockton, who died in 2004, and the nephew of the current chairman, David Lockton. Ron has worked at Lockton for 29 years as a producer and held several key leadership positions, including most recently CEO of Lockton Inc.

Kaiser Permanente CEO Tyson Dies at 60

Bernard J. Tyson, chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Permanente, died in his sleep Nov. 10 at the age of 60.

The board of directors named Gregory A. Adams, executive vice president and group president, as interim chairman and CEO.

Tyson's career at Kaiser Permanente spanned more than 30 years, successfully serving in roles from hospital administrator and division president to CEO, Kaiser said in a statement. He was appointed CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Hospitals—known as Kaiser Permanente—in 2013 and was named chairman of the board of directors in 2014. Tyson was also one of only five black CEOs in the United States leading a major corporation.

Tyson's influence was felt both nationally and internationally. Time magazine included him on its list of the most influential people in the world and named him one of the Health Care 50. Also, in addition to being named by Modern Healthcare as one of the most influential people in health care for five consecutive years, he was No. 2 on the 100 Most Influential People in Health Care list and on Fast Company's list of most creative people, according to a company statement.

Tyson is survived by his wife, Denise Bradley-Tyson, and three sons; Bernard J. Tyson Jr., Alexander and Charles.

Ameritas Chief Executive Officer to Retire, Successor Named

JoAnn M. Martin will retire as chief executive officer of Ameritas Mutual Holding Co. and Ameritas Holding Co., to be succeeded by William W. Lester.

Martin also will be succeeded by Lester as chair at Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Martin will retire on Jan. 10, but will continue to serve as director and vice chair of the boards of AMHC, AHC and ALIC.

Martin joined Ameritas, then called Bankers Life Nebraska, in 1984 as an audit division manager. She rose through the company, serving the next 35 years in various key leadership roles. She was elected CEO in 2009.

Bill Lester will succeed Martin and become president and CEO of Ameritas Mutual Holding Co. and Ameritas Holding Co. He currently serves as president and chief operating officer of AMHC and AHC, president and CEO of ALIC and president and CEO of Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation of New York.

Lester, who began his career with Ameritas in 1983 as a securities analyst with Ameritas Investment Advisors, has held many leadership roles at Ameritas.

W.R. Berkley Names President of Acadia Insurance

W.R. Berkley has named David J. LeBlanc to succeed Douglas M. Nelson as president of Acadia Insurance. LeBlanc will transition into his new role immediately as Nelson is appointed chairman of Acadia Insurance.

LeBlanc joined Acadia in 2006 and most recently served as its chief operating officer and chief underwriting officer. He has over 35 years of experience in the property/casualty industry.

Nelson joined Acadia as president in 2011 and will continue to support LeBlanc and the Acadia team throughout the transition.

Hub International Names Chief Sales Officer for Cannabis Insurance

Hub International has named Jay Virdi as chief sales officer for cannabis insurance and risk services in the United States and Canada.

In his new role, Virdi will focus on further developing resources across the United States and Canada, to provide medical and recreational cannabis producers, distributors and retailers proper protection and specialized solutions to reduce risks in all aspects of their operations.

Virdi has more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry providing support for sales activities and operations, including the execution of strategic initiatives. Virdi most recently developed and managed the cannabis practice group for a North American specialty risks MGA.

Hyperion Names Group CFO, Finance Director

Hyperion Insurance Group has named Mark Craig as group chief financial officer to succeed interim CFO Richard Houghton. Mark Hudson has also been named as group finance director.

Craig was to transition into his new role on Jan. 1. Craig, who was head of investments and debt capital markets, joined Hyperion in 2017. He is responsible for Hyperion's investment program, including identifying, executing and financing mergers and acquisitions and other growth initiatives, and manages the group's treasury and cash reserves.

Hudson will also transition into his new role on Jan. 1. He joined Dual, Hyperion's underwriting business, in 2016 as CFO. He has more than 25 years of general insurance experience, including roles as director of finance and operations at Novae Group plc.

In September, Hyperion combined two units, Howden and RKH, under a single management.