Grange Insurance Association has a new CEO, an executive promoted from within to replace a longtime leader who retired. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance appointed a new senior claims adjuster to be based in Germany, where he will support an expanding European team.

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Grange Insurance Association appointed Steve Stogner as its new CEO.

Stogner, previously the insurer’s executive vice president, became chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2019. He succeeds Ryan Dudley, who retired as CEO after 21 years in charge.

The company credited Dudley with helping the insurer achieve significant growth in policyholders and written premiums. GIA, founded in 1894 and headquartered in Seattle, Wash., is a mutual property/casualty insurer with operations in California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

Stogner initially joined GIA in 2009, working mostly as the vice president of marketing. The insurer said he has a wide range of experience in property/casualty insurance, as well as claims, sales, marketing and general management.

Stogner began his career in 2002 at Progressive Insurance, working in various claims and claims management positions.

Plans call for GIA to maintain its focus on independent agents and policyholders but also encourage innovation and using technology to boost the company’s capabilities.

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Alfred Barth was named senior claims adjuster for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance in Germany, as part of an expansion of the insurer’s European team.

Previously, Barth spent nearly four decades at C. Gielisch GmbH in Düsseldorf, where he was most recently senior loss adjuster, division manager and an executive board member. Barth began his career at C. Gielisch in Cologne as a surveyor and loss adjuster.

Barth will be based in the BHSI office in Düsseldorf.

BHSI offices in Munich and Düsseldorf underwrite property, casualty, medical malpractice, marine, and executive & professional lines for a broad range of business segments in Germany. In Europe, BHS operates as part of Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance Ltd., an incorporated England and Wales limited liability company.

Sources: Grange Insurance Association, BHSI