News

Home / Newsroom / H.W. Kaufman Group and Burns & Wilcox Promote 16 Insurance Industry Associates Across North America

H.W. Kaufman Group and Burns & Wilcox Promote 16 Insurance Industry Associates Across North America

national-accounts-burns-and-wilcox

Farmington Hills, Mich. (December 8, 2020)— H.W. Kaufman Group, a global network of companies, and Kaufman’s subsidiary Burns & Wilcox, North America’s leading wholesale insurance broker and underwriting manager, today publicly announced promotions that were revealed during its annual Kaufman Leadership Meeting. Each year, associates are invited to the Kaufman Leadership Meeting to celebrate their accomplishments, plan for the future and hear unique perspectives from internal and industry experts. Sixteen insurance industry associates across nine locations in the United States and Canada were promoted during the virtual event in November.

One of the most prominent promotions is for Kevin Heckman, who was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, H.W. Kaufman Group. Heckman held the previous title of Corporate Vice President, Global Accounting, and was appointed as Interim CFO in March 2020.

In his new role, based at the company headquarters in metro Detroit, he will be responsible for the network’s global accounting and financial operations, including strategic planning and growth strategy for its 15 companies. In addition to responsibilities within the global accounting and finance function, Heckman plays an integral role in mergers and acquisitions activity. He has also been key in offering operational leadership for the organization’s subsidiaries during his eight-year career with the company.

Promotions announced during the November virtual 2020 Kaufman Leadership Meeting include:

  • Kevin Heckman was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, Interim Chief Financial Officer (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
  • Rich Fusinski was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, Chief Information Officer (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan )
  • Josh Hunegs was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, H.W. Kaufman Group, Chief Investment Officer, Atain Insurance Companies, from Corporate Vice President (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan )
  • Paul Smith was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Carrier Relations, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, Carrier Relations (Parsippany, New Jersey)
  • Marc Fuhrman was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, National Retail Relations, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Corporate Vice President, National Retail Relations (Los Angeles, California)
  • Laura Bates was promoted to Corporate Senior Vice President, Atain, from Corporate Vice President (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
  • Mark Engel was promoted to Corporate Vice President, Marine, and Managing Director, RB Jones Marine, from Managing Director (New York City, New York)
  • Michele Rochester was promoted to Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Kaufman Institute, from Managing Director (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
  • Drew Dean was promoted to Associate Vice President, Managing Director, Burns & Wilcox, from Managing Director (Indianapolis, Indiana)
  • Justin Sadaphal was promoted to Associate Vice President, Director, Operations & Finance, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Director, Operations & Finance (Toronto, Ontario)
  • Brad Turner was promoted to Associate Vice President, National Product Manager, Flood, Burns & Wilcox, from National Product Manager, Flood (Morehead City, North Carolina)
  • Kate Wright was promoted to Associate Vice President, Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, from Regional Practice Group Leader, Personal Insurance (Indianapolis, Indiana)
  • Danielle Alessandrini was promoted to Associate Vice President, Director, Personal Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, from Underwriting Director, Personal Insurance (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
  • Shelby Zgnilec was promoted to Director, Operations & Analytics, H.W. Kaufman Group, from Manager, Operations & Analytics (Detroit/Farmington Hills, Michigan)
  • Jeremy Bittker was promoted to Director, Strategic Initiatives, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Manager, Strategic Initiatives (Toronto, Ontario)
  • Patricia Sheridan was promoted to Director, Commercial Insurance, Burns & Wilcox Canada, from Manager, Commercial Insurance (Toronto, Ontario)

About H.W. Kaufman Group and Burns & Wilcox
Burns & Wilcox is the insurance industry’s leading wholesale insurance broker and underwriting manager internationally recognized for its expertise in commercial and professional liability, property, environmental, marine and personal insurance.

Burns & Wilcox is a member of H.W. Kaufman Group, which has over 60 offices across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and employs more than 2,000 professionals. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Metro Detroit, H.W. Kaufman Group also includes: Burns & Wilcox Brokerage, Burns & Wilcox Canada, Atain Insurance Companies, Afirm, Global Excess Partners, RB Jones, Stonemark, Minuteman Adjusters, Kaufman Institute and London-based, Burns & Wilcox United Kingdom, Chesterfield Insurance Brokers, Lochain Patrick, Cranbrook Underwriting and Node International. More information can be found at www.burnsandwilcox.com or www.hwkaufman.com.

###