People News: Safety National, Navigators, Ohio Insurance Director

Timmel Joins Safety National as National Director of Cyber and Technology

Safety National announced that Spencer Timmel, CIPP/US, CIPM, joined the company as national director of Cyber and Technology. In his new capacity with Safety National, Timmel will be responsible for leading Safety National’s emergence as a provider of cyber liability and other related coverage.

With nearly 20 years in the industry and a decade of cyber-related experience, Timmel brings an extensive background to Safety National, including a particular focus in the areas of risk identification and modeling, breach preparedness, coverage analysis and claims advocacy. He held a variety of client- and market-facing roles at brokerage firms, most recently serving as Cyber and Technology Risk Practice Leader.

Safety National expects to launch its cyber liability offerings in the second quarter of 2017.

Navigators Group Promotes DeFalco to EVP, Navigators Holdings Appoints Déal Managing Director

The Navigators Group, Inc. announced the promotion of Ciro M. DeFalco to executive vice president of The Navigators Group, Inc. DeFalco has served as senior vice president and chief financial officer since December 2011.

DeFalco joined Navigators in September 2011.

In a separate announcement, Navigators Holdings (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of The Navigators Group, Inc., announced the appointment of Guillaume Déal as managing director, Continental Europe.

In this newly created position, Déal will assume responsibility for operations in France, where Navigators has a Paris-based underwriting team of five employees, and lead the expansion of the business across Europe.

Déal joins Navigators from Credit Agricole Group, where he was chief underwriting officer of its insurance company, CAMCA. Previously, he spent nearly 20 years with Chubb Insurance Company of Europe SE, most recently serving as vice president of Europe, Strategic Alliances and alternative distribution manager. His experience includes overseeing operations of underwriting, claims and insurance back-office functions, as well as developing and directing best practices and business strategies.

Lieutenant Governor Steps Down as Ohio Insurance Director

Ohio’s lieutenant governor stepped down Friday as the state’s insurance director.

Republican Gov. John Kasich said in a statement that Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor was leaving her job as director of the Ohio Department of Insurance effective Friday. The governor named the department’s deputy director, Jillian Froment, to serve as the new director.

Taylor is continuing as Kasich’s lieutenant and is one of four high-profile Ohioans aspiring to governor. The others are Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci.

Taylor announced the creation of the Mary Taylor for Governor committee in February, clearing her to begin campaigning, raising money and seeking endorsements. She has said she plans to make her official campaign announcement in the next couple of months.

Taylor told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Friday that she has enjoyed her time as insurance director, a position she has held since becoming lieutenant governor in January 2011.

“It’s just the right time for me to step down and start focusing more on the future of the state of Ohio and the people I represent as lieutenant governor,” she said.

Taylor, a former state auditor and state representative from the Akron suburb of Green, also said the decision to step down was made partly to allow more time for campaigning for governor.

Kasich said Friday that Taylor has provided “steady, knowledgeable leadership” as insurance director.

Froment has served as deputy director since 2011 and has “a deep knowledge” of the insurance industry and the department, the governor said.