Florida-Based Property Insurers CEO Group
Editorial
October 12, 2011
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s new board held its first meeting today, with Chairman Carlos Lacasa establishing as a goal reducing Citizens’ size and fostering the growth of private insurers. “Citizens cannot continue to grow while private capital struggles to come into the private market,” said Lacasa, a former state House member from Miami.
Lacasa was designated chair by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. He succeeds Jim Malone of Sarasota, who was not re-appointed to the board. The board selects the vice chair. Acting on Lacasa’s recommendation, the board elected as vice chair another former House member, Rob Wallace, Tampa.
The new Citizens board includes three members from the old board, which faced expiration of terms this summer – Carlos Lacasa, Tom Lynch and Carol Everhart.
The new board “has the most promising mix of skill sets I have seen since 2006,” the chairman continued. “I am going to task this board to really really engage in the oversight of the company (Citizens) and make us a really big player.”
Belinda Miller, Office of Insurance Regulation general counsel and one of its key liaisons with Citizens, also said she sees a bright future for the new board. “The board now has enough experience in insurance..from a variety of perspectives. I think you have the potential to really be successful,” she said.
During his term as chair, Lasaca said, the board should:
* Strive to improve Citizens ability to underwrite new and existing business to eliminate fraud and inefficiency;
* Reduce claims to reduce losses;
* Help private insurers to participate more aggressively in the Florida market and reduce the size of Citizens;
* Explore cooperative arrangements with other states, using the expertise of board member John Wortman, Ponte Vedra, former director of citizens counterpart in the State of Louisiana; and
* Improve the board’s oversight of Citizens.
Here is the Citizens board:
Carlos Lacasa, chairman, a former state legislator who is vice president and general counsel of Managed Care of North America. Lacasa was re-appointed by House speaker Dean Cannon.
Rob Wallace, vice chair, a former state legislator from Tampa. Wallace is president of Environmental Engineering Consultants. He was appointed by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.
Nancy Baily, former president of Travelers of Florida and now director of a non-profit in Tampa that helps Lou Gehrig’s Disease patients. She is former chair of the Florida Insurance Council. She was appointed by CFO Atwater.
Chris Gardner, a shareholder with Kuykendall Gardner, an insurance broker and consultant in Winter Park. He was appointed by House Speaker Cannon.
Tom Lynch, president of Plastridge Insurance agency in Delray Beach. He was re-appointed by Senate President Mike Haridopolos.
Carol Everhart, vice president of insurance services at BB&T in Tampa. She was re-appointed by Haridopolos.
John Rollins, Rolins Analytics, High Springs. John is a former vice president of AIR Worldwide, a former actuary at Citizens Property and a former chief actuary and manager at FIC member Florida Farm Bureau Insurance. Appointed by Governor Scott.
John Wortman, Ponte Vedra, hief executive officer of Wortman Capital Associates. Previously, he served as chief executive officer of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation from 2007 to 2010.
