Christopher Taft Elected Chairman of AAIS

The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) elected Christopher Taft, president and CEO of Preferred Mutual Ins. Co., New Berlin, N.Y., as its chairman.

AAIS, a national insurance advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 700 P/C companies of all sizes throughout the U.S., conducted the election as part of its recent annual meeting held in conjunction with its “Main Event” conference this month Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Taft succeeds Jack Rader, executive vice president and COO of Farmers Alliance Companies, McPherson, Kan., who remains a member of the AAIS board of directors.

In addition, Herman Bontrager, president and CEO of Goodville Mutual Casualty Co., New Holland, Pa., was elected a member of the AAIS board.

AAIS listed its other board members:

--Edward Berg, president and CEO of Pharmacists Mutual Ins. Co., Algona, Iowa;

--R. Douglas Haines, president and CEO of Buckeye Insurance Group, Piqua, Ohio;

--Stuart Henderson, president and CEO of Western National Insurance Group, Edina, Minn.;

--Judy Jackson, a director of NLC Insurance Companies, Norwich, Conn.;

--Jeffrey Kusch, president and CEO of Austin Mutual Ins. Co., Maple Grove, Minn.; and

--Paul Baiocchi, president and CEO of AAIS.