ACIC Elects Board Members

Members of the Association of California Insurance Companies (ACIC) have elected Cinda Smith, senior counsel at GEICO, as chair at the organization’s recent annual meeting, according to ACIC President Sam Sorich.

Sorich noted that ACIC member companies also elected Cary Cheldin, president of Crusader Insurance Company, as vice chair of the association. Smith replaces James Sevey, executive vice president and general counsel of the California Casualty Group, who served two one-year terms.

“Our members enthusiastically welcomed ACIC’s new leadership team,” said Sorich. “With Cinda as chair, I – as well as our entire association membership – are confident ACIC will continue to successfully meet the public policy challenges property/casualty insurers face today and in the future in California.”

Sorich also praised outgoing Chair Sevey for his outstanding leadership and guidance. “While Jim served as chair, ACIC successfully conducted an aggressive and effective advocacy program on behalf of its members in the legislative, media, regulatory and legal areas.”

Among the association Board members elected at the annual meeting to ACIC’s Board of Directors were Kathleen Bissell, assistant vice president of public affairs for Liberty Mutual Insurance Group; Tim Chang, legislative counsel for the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club; Delia Chilgren, California regional counsel for Allstate Insurance Company; Beverly Clark, associate general counsel for California Casualty Group, and Hank Edmiston, director of corporate affairs for TIG Insurance Group.

The other Board members elected were John Hernandez, senior vice president of Majestic Insurance Company; Michael Keyes, president and CEO of Oregon Mutual Insurance Company; William McCartney, senior vice president of USAA; Gregory Parini, vice president of Civil Service Employees Insurance Company; Paul Rubincam, senior vice president of Western Mutual Insurance Company, and Richard Shrader, legislative advocate for California State Automobile Association Interinsurance Bureau.