Several prominent insurance providers have announced executive appointments this week.
The Standard, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, has promoted Kate O’Farrell (pictured left) to assistant vice president, Global Capability Center (GCC) Talent and Culture. In her new role, O’Farrell will oversee talent functions including workforce planning, recruitment, and employee engagement for the company’s global operations. She will also serve as leader for the GCC human resources team and as HR chief of staff.
O’Farrell joined The Standard in 2017 and brings over 20 years of HR experience, including prior roles at Oregon Health & Science University and Portland Public Schools.
“Kate brings strong leadership and strategic insight to this vital global initiative,” said Susan Bruechner, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at The Standard.
Alliant Insurance Services has appointed Karston King as vice president within its employee benefits team. Based in Utah, King will support clients ranging from startups to large national employers with strategic guidance on funding models, compliance, and benefits technology.
“Karston helps his diverse client base navigate their benefits strategies with precision and insight,” said Kevin Overbey, president, Alliant Employee Benefits. King previously worked at a Utah-based consulting firm and holds a business management degree from Brigham Young University.
Meanwhile, Canal Insurance Company has welcomed Paul Stachura (pictured right) as vice president and chief claims officer. Stachura joins the Greenville, South Carolina-based commercial auto insurer with a wealth of industry experience, having held senior claims roles at Chubb, QBE North America, and most recently State Auto.
“Paul’s leadership will elevate our claims operations and support our continued enterprise growth,” said Paul Brocklebank, CEO of Canal Financial Group. Stachura is a graduate of Michigan State University and a former chair of the American Insurance Association’s Claims Committee.
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