People News

W. R. Berkley Corporation announced the appointment of Scott R. Barraclough as president of N.J.-based Admiral Insurance, succeeding Steven S. Zeitman, who has been named chairman. The appointments are effective immediately.

Barraclough joined Admiral Insurance in 1996 and has held various financial and operational positions throughout his 20-year career with Admiral. Most recently, he served as executive vice president.

Kemper Corporation announced that effective July 18, 2016, George “Chip” D. Dufala, Jr. will join the company as president, Property & Casualty Division.

Dufala will report directly to Joseph P. Lacher, Jr., Kemper’s president and chief executive officer, and will be based in Chicago. Dufala’s direct reports will include the executives who lead the Kemper Personal and Commercial Lines, Kemper Specialty California and Alliance United businesses as well as various P&C supporting functions.

Most recently Dufala was executive vice president, Services at Erie Insurance Group, where he was responsible for claims and services, as well as crisis prevention and management. His 23 year experience at Erie also included a series of roles of increasing responsibility spanning sales and operational leadership functions. He is particularly experienced in helping turn around underperforming businesses.

QBE North America, an operating division of QBE Group, named David Kuhn senior vice president, regional executive – Western Region.

Kuhn will lead QBE’s go-to-market activities in the 10-state region consisting of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. He will be accountable for the region’s profitable growth across a diverse set of insurance businesses and products, as well as all agent and broker relationships and performance in the region. Based in California, he will oversee business planning and collaborate with Underwriting and Claims to assure service excellence and responsiveness to build the strongest partnerships with agents, brokers and clients. The hiring follows similar steps QBE has been making throughout the country to further expand its Field Operations team and extend its national franchise with a local touch to customers.

Kuhn brings to QBE more than 30 years of experience in building high performing teams in both turn-around situations and growth opportunities in the insurance industry. He joins QBE from Hanover Insurance Group, where he was regional president of the company’s Pacific Region for four years. Before Hanover, he served as senior vice president at QBE North America from 2011 to 2012. Before QBE, he spent seven years at Balboa Insurance Group both before and after it was acquired by Bank of America, first as managing director, and then as senior vice president. Kuhn also has served in leadership roles at The St. Paul Companies, Hartford Specialty Company, Travelers Insurance and Aetna.

He has also earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.