Going Places

Allianz Cornhill
Allianz Cornhill Legal Protection has appointed Alison Hawkins as corporate business developer.

She will be responsible for developing national accounts for before-the-event (BTE) products.

Hawkins brings with her more than 12 years' experience in the insurance industry, most recently as broker account executive at DAS, based at their London city office.

AXA
AXA Insurance has appointed Faran Johnson as HR director. She will take full responsibility for the HR consultancy and communications team providing support to the business.

Johnson joins from First Data Corporation where she held the position of vice president, organisational development.

Before joining First Data Corporation she was human resources director at Blockbuster Entertainment. She gained experience in the insurance market working for the Canada Life Assurance Company as an organisational development manager. Prior to that she worked at Lloyds TSB.

American P&I Club
Dr William H Moore has joined joining Shipowners Claims Bureau (SCB), managers of the American P&I Club, to take charge of its growing technical, safety and loss prevention activities.

Dr Moore joins SCB from the Bergen office of Gard Services AS, where he was a vice president.

SR Bishop Underwriting
SR Bishop Underwriting, which was established at the end of last year, has appointed Ken Freeman to the position of claims manager.

Freeman joins from Allianz, and his role, in addition to claims handling, will be to provide technical insurance back-up to the underwriter. Having spent more than 25 years in the marine market he has wide experience in all aspects of claims. Freeman has previously worked for the Corporation of Lloyd's, UAP and Sirius.

Magian Mutual
Magian Mutual, the new insurance company set up to provide compliant professional indemnity cover for IFAs, has appointed a board of non-executive directors to run the company.

There are three directors from the IFA industry, Valerie Gaze, Steven Rimmer and Dale Thornley and three directors with insurance backgrounds, Peter Standish, (chairman), Keith Peacock and Alan Cleary.

Markel
Gerry Albanese has been appointed president and chief operating officer and Richie Whitt has been appoimted as executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Markel International.

Albanese joined Markel Corporation's North American subsidiary, Shand Morahan and Company, in 1984 as product line manager in the errors & omissions department. Since 1996, he has served as chief underwriting officer at Shand Morahan. Prior to joining Markel, he was with both the Hartford Insurance Company and AIG in New York.

Whitt assumed his current position as vice president, treasurer and controller of Markel Corporation in January 2001, having joined Markel in 1991 after beginning his business career at KPMG in Richmond.

Carole Nash
Specialist motorcycle insurance intermediary Carole Nash has created a new management post.

Penny Copeland, who has previously helped set up and manage training and development functions at Aeon, Independent and Commercial Union, has been recruited to lead a seven strong team based at Carole Nash's new £500,000 Training Centre in Altrincham, Cheshire.

Prior to joining Carole Nash, Copeland worked for IRISC, a division of Aon Insurance where she set up a training and development function. Prior to that she enjoyed a similar role at Independent Insurance where she was responsible for the creation of the firm's training academy. She began her insurance industry career in 1986 when she joined Commercial Union as a graduate trainee.

Heath Lambert Consulting
Heath Lambert Consulting has appointed Douglas Walker to strengthen the existing corporate pensions and benefits team. He will be covering Scotland from Heath Lambert's Edinburgh base at 101 George Street. Walker has more than 20 years' experience in the corporate pensions and benefits industry.

HSBC Insurance Brokers
HSBC Insurance Brokers has appointed Mark Palmer as director, political risks.

He will be based in London and report to Keith Thomas, director, credit and political Risks.

Palmer brings more than 12 years' experience in trade and commodity finance as well as financial, political and credit risks underwriting. He joins HSBC Insurance Brokers from XL London Market, where he was deputy class underwriter, financial and political risks.

He has also held various senior positions in AIG Europe, Standard Bank, Fortis Bank and Yamaichi Bank.

HIBL
Henderson Insurance Brokers (HIBL) has expanded its team of key personnel.

Gavin Rourke has been appointed new business development broker. John Hood has been appointed human resources manager for the HIBL group. Glynis Bryant joins HIBL as purchase ledger clerk.

In addition, HIBL is pleased to welcome Nick Mason as branch manager in the Stamford office.

Atlas Risk Management
Atlas Risk Management has appointed Paul Rowland as director of its new London operation, following the recently-announced strategic alliance with Alexander Forbes. He was formerly sales & marketing manager at Credit Indemnity & Financial Services. He brings with him experience of underwriting, broking, and sales & marketing, having worked previously for JLT Credit, and HSBC.

Weightman Vizards
Three partners and seven support staff have joined national law firm Weightman Vizards from Manchester-based law firm Elliotts.

Ted Sheils, Julian Holt and Neal Samarji specialise in defendant EL/PL and motor claims.

Direct Commercial
Direct Commercial has appointed Bob Crothers, previously of RL Davison, as agency director. Crothers brings with him a wealth of experience in the motor fleet market and will join the team in the Chelmsford office.

AUTOGLASS
AUTOGLASS has appointed Simon Edwards as corporate marketing manager.

He brings a wealth of experience to AUTOGLASS, having worked most recently as brand manager for Zanussi, part of Electrolux.

Amba Mistry joins as business manager. Mistry has worked previously for David Lloyd Leisure as a sales and marketing manager. Prior to this, she worked for 3M in the automotive aftermarket division as a field sales representative.

RAC
RAC Claims Services has appointed Nick Jones as its marketing manager.

Jones joins RAC from AMP Banking, where he headed up savings and investments, and also held senior marketing roles at Royal & SunAlliance and Marks and Spencer Financial Services.

Employee of the week: : Hugh James appoints Hugh Price as a director
South Wales law firm Hugh James has appointed Hugh Price as its director of insurance. He will be working closely with Mairwen Whittaker, Mike Jefferies and Colin Asbrey, respectively technical heads of insurance, construction and professional indemnity.

Price specialises is high value personal injury claims, catastrophic injury and professional indemnity claims

His professional achievements include: