Insurance

California Appoints Members to New Smoke Claims and Remediation Task Force

California Insurance coverage Commissioner Ricardo Lara has appointed members to his new Smoke Claims and Remediation Activity Power, as a part of his response to points over smoke harm attributable to wildfires throughout the state, together with the dealing with of smoke harm claims arising from the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January.

Led by the California Division of Insurance coverage, the duty drive contains state and native public well being specialists, hearth security specialists, smoke remediation specialists, industrial hygienists, client advocates and representatives from the insurance coverage business. Collectively, they’ll suggest science-based insurance coverage requirements and greatest practices for safely returning to and restoring houses and private property.

The Los Angeles wildfires are thought-about the state’s largest city catastrophe, underscoring the necessity for brand spanking new insurance policies and requirements in managing smoke harm claims. With out clear statewide protocols, many customers report having their claims denied with out thorough investigation or being compelled to return to houses they really feel are unsafe, particularly as smoke impacts lengthen past the rapid hearth areas to downwind neighborhoods, in response to the California Division of Insurance coverage.

Lara in June launched a formal investigation into State Farm’s handling of hundreds of insurance coverage claims from wildfire survivors affected by the L.A. wildfires, significantly over smoke harm claims.

The division can be investigating tons of of smoke damage-related complaints from wildfire survivors regarding varied insurance coverage corporations and the California FAIR Plan.

Associated: Judge Says California FAIR Plan Violates Law; Industry Fights Consumer Group Suit

Lara can be working with the Nationwide Affiliation of Insurance coverage Commissioners to interact with different insurance coverage regulators dealing with related smoke harm challenges of their states. The absence of constant public well being requirements for smoke harm following wildfires, as seen within the 2023 Lahaina Fireplace in Maui, Hawaii, and the 2021 Marshall Fireplace in Boulder, Colorado, has resulted in confusion, delays, and inconsistent therapy of house owners, in response to the CDI.

Activity drive members embrace:

Tony Cignarale, deputy insurance coverage commissioner for client providers and market conduct on the California Division of Insurance coverage, who will chair the duty drive.
Rita Nguyen, assistant state public well being officer on the California Division of Public Well being
Nichole Fast, chief medical advisor on the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being
Chief Frank Bigelow, deputy director for neighborhood wildfire preparedness and mitigation within the Workplace of the State Fireplace Marshal on the California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety (CalFire)
Amy Bach, government director of United Policyholders
Richard Holober, board treasurer for the Shopper Federation of California Training Basis
Brad Kovar, CEO of Safeguard EnviroGroup Inc.
Patrick Moffett, president of Blue Sky Environmental Consulting Inc.
Kristofer Griffith, vice chairman of operations at Anderson Group Worldwide
Hamid Arabzadeh, principal at HRA Environmental Consultants Inc.
Michelle Rosales, director of environmental well being providers at Forensic Analytical Consulting Providers
Allison Adey, legislative advocate on the Private Insurance coverage Federation of California
Karen Collins, vice chairman, property and environmental on the American Property Casualty Insurance coverage Affiliation

The duty drive is anticipated to satisfy month-to-month, with a timeline to ship suggestions to the commissioner by early 2026. The group additionally plans to obtain displays from wildfire survivor teams, hearth security specialists, public well being specialists and insurance coverage business representatives.

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California
Claims

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Aon Promotes Reinsurance Leaders as John Neal Takes a New Direction With AIG

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Insurance coverage dealer Aon introduced the promotions of Alfonso Valera as CEO of Worldwide for Reinsurance, accountable for UK, EMEA and APAC, and Steve Hofmann as CEO of Americas for Reinsurance, accountable for North America and Latin America. As well as, George Attard has been named world head of Technique and Tomas Novotny has been appointed chairman of Worldwide.

Aon mentioned these reinsurance appointments are unconnected to immediately’s announcement from AIG that John Neal, the previous CEO of Lloyd’s, could be taking over a serious government position on the insurer, somewhat than shifting to Aon as CEO of Reinsurance as initially had been deliberate.

In the beginning of 2025, Neal had been named CEO of reinsurance at Aon, and has been on gardening go away since he left Lloyd’s on the finish of Could – however he by no means truly labored for Aon. Immediately, AIG introduced he’ll take a unique course, main AIG’s Common Insurance coverage—North America and worldwide business insurance coverage companies plus AIG’s world private insurance coverage ebook.

An Aon spokesman famous that these regional appointments had been in prepare earlier than AIG’s announcement about Neal, and the dealer determined to maneuver up its announcement when Neal made his determination to maneuver to AIG — so as “to supply readability” in regards to the group.

“AIG is a superb accomplice of ours, and we actually help what’s taking place right here,” the Aon spokesman mentioned. He defined there are not any plans to conduct a seek for a CEO of reinsurance as a result of Andy Marcell will stay in his present position with the brand new group reporting into him. Marcell leads Aon’s built-in Danger Capital and Human Capital capabilities throughout the agency’s Reinsurance, Industrial Danger, Well being, Wealth and Expertise groups.

“We want John Neal nice success in his new position and stay up for working with him at AIG. World Options CEO Andy Marcell and our industry-leading Reinsurance group are strongly positioned to proceed to innovate on behalf of our purchasers,” mentioned Aon in an official assertion.

Valera beforehand served as co-CEO of EMEA for Reinsurance and, earlier than that, as CEO and normal supervisor of Aon Re Iberia, amongst different management roles. Hofmann beforehand served as U.S. CEO of Reinsurance and earlier as U.S. co-president of Reinsurance.

Attard most not too long ago served as CEO of Reinsurance for APAC, following 17 years on the agency main technique and consumer engagement within the area. Novotny has served as co-CEO of EMEA for Reinsurance, chairman of the board of Central and Jap Europe for the agency and as a broking chief for Aon primarily based in Prague.

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Leadership
Reinsurance
Aon
AIG

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Society Insurance Names Felton to Board of Directors

Society Insurance coverage, headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, elected Chris Felton of Burlington, Wisconsin, as a director

Felton is president and chief govt officer of Company Central Credit score Union, main technique, innovation and operations.

Along with Felton, Society’s board of administrators additionally consists of Heather I. Boyer, Sherman L. Brown, JoAnn M. Cotter, John F. Duwell, Susan M. Finco, Nancy Hernandez, Linda L. Newberry-Ferguson and Rick W. Parks.

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The Hartford Promotes Chhabra to Chief Risk Officer

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The Hartford mentioned it’s selling Prateek Chhabra to chief danger officer, succeeding Robert Paiano who will retire from the corporate on the finish of the yr.

Chhabra, who since 2018 has held the position of senior vice chairman and chief insurance coverage danger officer, will begin as CRO on September 1. He’ll report back to CEO Christopher Swift.

Swift mentioned Chhabra “has superior our danger administration capabilities, pushed innovation and carried out strategic enhancements throughout our enterprise making him ideally fitted to the position of chief danger officer.”

Earlier than becoming a member of The Hartford, Chhabra was CRO for home companies at The Hanover Insurance coverage Group.

Paiano will assume an advisory position to assist with the transition, The Hartford mentioned. He spent 29 years with the insurer. Previous to his position as CRO, Paiano was The Hartford’s treasurer.

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