Updated people moves: Erie CISO, Topa CIO
September 2, 2020 3:07 AM
Erie Insurance has named Jamie Neumaier chief information security officer (CISO), effective September 10. Reporting to EVP and CIO Robert Ingram, Neumaier leads cybersecurity operations and manage the company's information security policies, governance and architecture. He succeeds Keith Kennedy, who has taken a new role leading the company's innovation area. Her joined Erie Insurance in 2004 as a lead information security analyst, was promoted to security architect in 2009 and has held various leadership roles in information security since 2010. He currently serves as VP, information technology and leads Erie's information security department.
Topa Insurance Group has hired Tracy Tillinghast as VP and CIO. Tillinghast joined the company in 2018 as Director of IT Product Management and earlier this year was promoted to Assistant Vice President of IT, leading implementation of a new policy administration system from GuidewireBefore that, he worked in the IT department at California State Automobile Association.
Usage-based auto insurer Root Insurance has hired Julie Mix McPeak as senior deputy general counsel The commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance since 2011, McPeak also served as the president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2018. McPeak is the first woman to hold the position of Chief Insurance Regulator in more than one state. Prior to her CIR role in Tennessee, she was the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance.
Vericity,which sells middle-market-targeted life insurance products online, has hired David R. Drollette as Chief Data Officer & Chief Technology Officer. Drollette is responsible for executing a unified data strategy across Vericity to further leverage its data captured from life insurance prospects and customers. He also will be responsible for further deployment of the company’s technology, customer experience initiatives, and analytics and machine learning projects. He last was in the data and AI engineering team of athenahealth. Vericity sells products under the names Fidelity Life Association and eFinancial.
Becky Hudzik-Presson has been named chief claims officer of Church Mutual Insurance Company, reporting to Scott Names, chief information officer. She has 24 years' experience in the insurance industry, including stints at GMAC Insurance, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, Ace Insurance and Chubb Limited Insurance.
Brian S. Hertzman is promoted to SVP and CFO of American Financial Group, parent to Great American Insurance Company. He joined AFG in 1991, last serving as VP and Controller of AFG, with responsibility for oversight of accounting policies and procedures in compliance with GAAP and other regulations.