QBE North America filled two regional leadership roles with a promotion from within and a former AIG executive. The Hartford appointed a new board member. W.R. Berkley Corp. chose a new president of its Nautilus Insurance Group.

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QBE North America hired Bobby Steinsdoerfer as Senior Vice President, Regional Underwriting Leader – Central Region and appointed Lucas Prahl as Senior Vice President, Regional Underwriting Leader – Western Region.

Steinsdoerfer joins QBE from AIG’s Blackboard Insurance Co., bringing 12 years of underwriting and strategic leadership experience in commercial and specialty insurance. Before Blackboard, he served in a number of leadership roles at Zurich North America.

Prahl, who joined QBE in 2017, has 16 years of industry experience within both underwriting and reinsurance brokerage. He had been serving as the P&C-Retail Underwriting Leader of the Central Region since 2019. His move to the Western Region coincides with the transfer of Texas, where Prahl has strong roots, from the Central to Western Region. He will co-lead this high potential growth region with Ed Griffiths, Senior Vice President, Regional Underwriting Leader – Western Region. Prior to QBE, Prahl served at The Hartford and Chubb.

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The Hartford appointed Donna James to its board of directors, effective Feb. 17, 2021. She will serve on the board’s Finance, Investment and Risk Management Committee.

James’ previous experience includes serving as an advisor to former President Barack Obama and Congress on the economic growth and development of women business-owners, according to the insurer.

James is president and CEO of Lardon & Associates, a business-advisory firm specializing in corporate governance, new business development, strategy, and financial and risk management. She had a 25-year career with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, culminating in the role of president of strategic investments. BEfore that, she held a variety of positions, including chief administrative officer, chief human resources officer, assistant to the CEO and director of operations and treasury services. James is a certified public accountant (non-practicing) and began her career as an auditor with Coopers & Lybrand LLP.

President Obama appointed James in October 2010 to be chairwoman of the National Women’s Business Council, a non-partisan advisory council to the president, Congress and the Small Business Administration. She held the position until June 2013.

James also serves on the boards of Boston Scientific Corporation and L Brands, Inc.

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W.R. Berkley Corp. named Thomas Joyce as president of Berkley-owned Nautilus Insurance Group. He succeeds Thomas Kuzma, who has been named chairman.

The appointments will be effective January 1, 2021.

Joyce joined Nautilus as senior vice president of claims in 2015 and was named chief underwriting officer in 2018 and executive vice president in 2020. He has been a leader in the insurance industry for over 35 years, serving in various technical and leadership roles, with a particular focus in the excess and surplus lines market. He has broad industry knowledge and a keen appreciation for the importance of relationships with distribution partners.

Kuzma joined Nautilus as an underwriter in 1986, its inaugural year. As the company grew, he took on more responsibilities in underwriting management, becoming chief underwriting officer in 1994 and president in 1997. In his new role as chairman, he will continue to share his 44 years of industry experience with Joyce and the Nautilus team, helping to further strengthen relationships with distribution partners, develop business opportunities and mentor Nautilus team members.

Sources: QBE North America, The Hartford, W.R. Berkley Corp.