Claims People: Envista, Allianz, Florida Peninsula, Beazley and CaseGlide

Envista Forensics, a global provider of forensic consulting services for insurance claims, has appointed Christina Lucas as president.

Lucas will replace Robert Wedoff, who has held the role of president since 2014. Wedoff is transitioning to an executive role with Envista’s parent company, Cor Partners, the Atlanta-based company said in a press release.

Prior to joining Envista, Lucas was the site leader and general manager of American International Group in Bulgaria. She held key leadership roles within the organization’s Global Claims Performance team, Latin American and Caribbean operations, and Asia Pacific operations, Envista said in a press release.

Lucas was a manager for Deloitte before joining AIG as a general manager before AIG as a general manager in 2017, according to her Linkedin profile. She was an associate for Booz Allen Hamilton before then.

Lucas has a master’s degree in information technology from American InterContinental University and bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University, according to Linkedin.

Alliance Global Corporate & Specialty has appointed Frank Sapio as head of claims in North America.

Sapio replaces Terry Campbell, who will continue as an advisor to AGCS until July 2021, the New York City-based carrier said in a press release.

Sapio was previously the regional head of liability and aviation claims in North America, which he will continue to oversee on an interim basis. Based in O’Fallon, Missouri, Sapio joined AGCS in 2014 and was with Fireman’s Fund since 2003 in various claims management roles.

Sapio earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix.

The Florida Peninsula Insurance Co. has promoted Virginia Austin to director of special investigations.

Austin began her career with Florida Peninsula in 2009 as a claims examiner. She has managed the carrier’s Special Investigations Unit team for the last seven years.

In her new role as director, Austin, she will represent Florida Peninsula regarding claims suspected of fraud in conjunction with the Department of Financial Services and law enforcement agencies, the Boca Raton-based carrier said.

Austin will report to Florida Peninsula’s chief legal officer, Stacey Giulianti.

Florida Peninsula said it insures approximately 150,000 homes, condominium and apartment units located throughout Florida.

Beazley says it has expanded its U.S. executive risk team with the appointment of claims and underwriting professionals in New York, Boston and San Francisco.

Melanie Saponara joins Beazley’s New York claims team. She will primarily handle public company directors and officers claims.

Saponara most recently served as a claims consultant at CNA responsible for D&O liability, employment practices liability, and representations and warranties. A member of the New York bar, Melanie previously worked at law firm Mendes & Mount LLP, specializing in insurance and reinsurance law.

Beazley also appointed:

• Elizabeth Cassarino and Jeffrey Carney as underwriters in Boston.
• Allison Keenan as an underwriter in San Francisco.
• Mia Hennessey and Greg Staron as underwriters in New York.

Beazley said the appointments further strengthen the US Executive Risk team, led by Jeremie Saada and a newly formed leadership team which has brought added focus to each US region.

CaseGlide LLC, which provides claims litigation management software for claims organizations, has appointed Russ Smith as the company’s first-ever chief technology officer.

Smith joins the St. Petersburg, Florida-based technology company from Global Safety Management, where he served as that organization’s senior vice president of technology.

Smith will lead CaseGlide’s engineering team. He will play an instrumental part in guiding research and development, prioritizing opportunities that solve customers’ needs, and managing the long-term product roadmap, the company said.

Smith spent nearly 20 years as a director of custom software development for Tribridge, and later DXC Technology, after the company acquired Tribridge.