INN Names 10 Women in Insurance Leadership

Insurance Networking News magazine, a SourceMedia publication, today released the results of its Women in Insurance Leadership (WIL) program, a special designation to honor female insurance executives who have made a significant impact on their businesses.

This year’s six WIL winners are:

Julia Boland, senior area IT manager, SVP, The Chubb Corp., Warren, N.J.  (Nominated by Chubb Corp.)

Maureen Hegarty, VP, claims operations, Electric Insurance Co., Beverly, Mass. (Nominated by Electric Insurance Co.)

Jamie Ohl, SVP & director, retirement plans group, Hartford Life Inc., Hartford, Conn.  (Nominated by The Hartford)

Heidi Peterson, director of underwriting services and administration, Markel Corp., Glen Allen, Va.  (Nominated by Camilion Solutions Inc.)

Peggy Stewart, EVP & COO, brokering excellence worldwide, Aon Risk Services Inc., Chicago  (Nominated by Aon Corp.)

Jane Tutoki, EVP and chief claims officer, Zurich in North America, Schaumburg, Ill. (Nominated by Zurich in North America)

Also receiving recognition are four Notable Achievers, who have successfully driven significant project and/or process improvements within their companies:

Kendall Blythe, VP of enterprise business and technology services, Tokio Marine Management, New York (Nominated by Hyland Software).

Darby O’Neill, VP-information technology, Princeton Insurance, Princeton, N.J. (Nominated by St. Nick Media Services on behalf of Vertafore)

Shawn Pate, VP, software development, Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co., Boston (Nominated by Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Co.)

Connie Phillips, president, Connie Phillips Insurance Inc., Frederick, Md.  (Nominated by Connie Phillips Insurance Inc.)

“We are pleased to add another 10 women from across the carrier, broker and agent communities to the WIL family,” said Carrie Burns, INN’s senior managing editor and WIL project manager. “These women have held leadership positions in the industry, moving to greater and more diverse positions of influence and authority.”

Judging for the program included a rating methodology based on the candidate’s contribution to the institution's top and bottom lines, job complexity, corporate governance and ethics, and leadership and management skills.

The winners were chosen by four of the 2008 award program winners:

• Judy Anderson (now retired), Rural Community Insurance Services, Anoka, Minn.
• Julie Davis, Aon Risk Services of the West Inc., San Jose, Calif.
• Madelyn Lankton, Travelers Insurance, Hartford Conn.
• Sharon Ritchey, The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., Hartford, Conn.

The 2009 winners will be featured in the September/October 2009 issue of INN and will be recognized at INN’s Women in Insurance Leadership Forum, September 13-15, 2009, in Dallas.

The two-day conference is dedicated to the professional development of women across the insurance and financial services sectors. Attendees can collaborate with other women in executive insurance business and technology positions through decisive and interactive dialogue; e.g. structured sessions, panel discussions and interactive roundtables. 

In partnership with SMA, a Boston consulting group, the 2009 WIL Forum will be co-located with the IASA Executive EDGE program, which will offer insurance executives a variety of panels, round table discussions and networking opportunities.