ACORD board appoints chair

ACORD, the global, non-profit insurance association created facilitate the development and use of standards for the insurance, reinsurance and related financial services industries, has appointed John Leonard as chair of the 2008 board of directors.

The announcement is part of a series of moves that sees three new members elected to the board.

Leonard is president and chief executive of the Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) Group.

This is Leonard's second time chairing the ACORD Board, having previously served in 2001.

The announcement was made by ACORD's president and chief executive, Gregory A. Maciag.

In a related move, ACORD announced three new members on the ACORD Board of Directors for 2008: Lawrence E. Blakeman, MetLife; Robert Slocum, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America; and Andreas Beerli from Swiss Re.

Leonard began with MEMIC in 1993 after a 27-year career with The Travelers, where he led the Commercial Lines Agency Marketing and Underwriting Division.

He is a former President of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds (AASCIF) and Chairman of its Executive Committee. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and is a member of the National Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Pool Board.

The MEMIC Group, including Maine Employers' Mutual Insurance Company (MEMIC) and MEMIC Indemnity Company, is a regional insurer specializing in workers' compensation throughout the Northeast. The MEMIC Group is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best.