Press Room

Welcome to the Combined Insurance Press Room. Here you'll find executive biographies, news, press releases and other pertinent communications.

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Company News

06/23/08:  Scott Tryner, National Director of Recruiting Services for Combined Insurance, offers insight into a career as an insurance agent; touching on the potential for unlimited income, flexibility, and a good deal of work autonomy. Follow the link below to Read Scott's article:
Insure Your Future: The Door of Opportunity is Open to Insurance Agents

04/01/08:  Aon Corporation announced the closing of the sale of Combined Insurance to ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), parent company of the ACE Group of Companies, a global leader in insurance and reinsurance. This sale does not change your insurance coverage in any way. ACE joins Combined Insurance in a mutual commitment to outstanding customer service and timely claims payment. This common customer focus makes us confident that as a member of the ACE Group of Companies, we will continue our efforts to better serve you - making it a beneficial partnership for all.

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Press Releases

By clicking on a press release, a window will open to our US website. Once you have viewed the information, please close the window to return to the Canadian website.

02/10/09:

Leading Insurer Recommends Insurance Review Following Annual Insurance Benefit Enrollment Period

02/04/09:

Know Your Risk ... and Insurance Coverage ... for Heart Attacks and Strokes

01/13/09:

Leading Insurer Reports Positive Outlook for U.S. Insurance Industry Jobs in 2009

11/18/08:

Combined Insurance Encourages Consumers to Assess Insurance Plans and Protection During Lung Cancer Awareness Month

10/14/08:

Combined Insurance Reports that Voluntary Programs Can Give Employers a Cost Effective Way to Offer Employee Benefits and Improve Employee Retention

09/29/08:

Combined Insurance Encourages Women to Assess Insurance Plans & Protection During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

View All Press Releases

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Combined Leadership

Click on an executives name to view their biography. Or view all biographies.

Global Leadership

Douglas R. Wendt - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Douglas R. Wendt joined the senior management team of Combined Insurance in January 2006 with responsibility for revenue and policyholder growth within the company's U.S. operations. In October 2006, Mr. Wendt was named president and chief operating officer with responsibility for all support and administrative business units and in July 2007, he became president and chief executive officer with full responsibility for Combined Insurance's global operations. Mr. Wendt was named chairman and chief executive officer in January 2008.

Before joining Combined Insurance, Mr. Wendt spent 36 years with Allstate Insurance Company where he held numerous management positions in finance, claims and sales. In 2003, he was named president of the Encompass Independent Agency Organization, a subsidiary of Allstate.

Mr. Wendt currently serves on the board of directors of the Allendale Home for Children.

Larry Cohen - Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Cohen joined Combined Insurance in 2008. His experience spans public accounting, financial services and insurance. Previously he was with PricewaterhouseCoopers' tax department in New York ultimately becoming a partner. He later joined The MONY Group as tax director then became its Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer and also served as Chief Financial Officer of MONY's distribution segment. Currently Mr. Cohen is responsible for GAAP and statutory financial accounting and reporting, budgeting and expense management, financial analysis, investments, procurement, real estate and rating agency relationships.

James L. Coleman - Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Prior to joining Combined Insurance in 2007, Mr. Coleman served as Chief Marketing Officer of Culligan International Company, a water treatment and filtration services company, since 2005. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Coleman was Vice President of Marketing at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Prior to 2000, Mr. Coleman held a variety of marketing leadership positions with Mobil Corporation.

Ralph Gaudio - Senior Vice President, Chief Agency Officer

Mr. Gaudio began his career in the insurance industry as a sales agent with Hearthstone Insurance Company, formerly part of Combined Insurance. In the more than 30 years since, he has held numerous sales leadership positions with Washington National Insurance, Kansas City Life and AIG. In his current role, Mr. Gaudio has responsibility for the global sales strategy to ensure coordination, efficiency and effectiveness.

David A. Goldberg - General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Goldberg joined Combined Insurance in 2005 and has been leading its corporate legal affairs worldwide since then. Previously, between 2000 and 2005, Mr. Goldberg served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for ChoiceParts, LLC, an automotive industry affiliate of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. From 1993 until mid-2000, Mr. Goldberg was with the Sidley & Austin law firm in Chicago where he worked on complex litigation across multiple industries, insurance/reinsurance regulatory matters and corporate reorganization. In 1999, he also served as the Acting General Counsel for the Coregis Insurance Company following its acquisition by GE Capital.

Steven E. Lippai - Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary

Mr. Lippai has spent his entire career at the company, initially joining in 1971. During his time with Combined Insurance, Mr. Lippai has been involved with the complete spectrum of the accident, disability, health and life insurance products. He has managed actuarial functions, service center operations and the development of new initiatives. He currently works to improve product line performance, increase the effectiveness of Combined Insurance business units and develop product strategies for expanding operations. In addition, he initiated and manages the company's Enterprise Risk Management program.

Carlos Sierra - Chief Operating Officer, Global Services and Technology

Prior to joining Combined Insurance in 2007, Mr. Sierra was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company since 1998. During his time at McKinsey, Mr. Sierra worked closely with a wide variety of companies, helping them to achieve significant strategic, financial and operational improvements. Prior to joining McKinsey, Mr. Sierra held various positions in product management and sales at FMC Corporation, a diversified manufacturing company.

Todd Stevenson - Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Prior to joining Combined Insurance in May 2006, Mr. Stevenson spent 12 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in various senior human resources positions; recently, he was Senior Vice President of Compensation for Retail Banking. He joined First Chicago Bank in 1994, and was involved in human resources integration with the Bank One and JPMorgan Chase & Co. mergers.

United States Leadership

Doug Abercrombie - Senior Vice President, Eastern National Sales Manager

Mr. Abercrombie joined Combined Insurance in 1983 as a Sales Representative in our Life division and moved up through the sales organization to ultimately become a Divisional Manager. In April 2007, Mr. Abercrombie took on a new role as Director, National Strategy Team and helped lead efforts, based on customer research, to make our sales approach more customer focused and responsive. He was promoted in 2008 to his current role, responsible for sales in the eastern region of the U.S.

John C. Walsh - Senior Vice President, Western National Sales Manager

Mr. Walsh joined the company in 1986 as a sales representative and quickly rose through the management ranks. In 1993 he was promoted to Regional Manager and Divisional Manager in 1999. He has been awarded numerous top management titles within the company including both top Regional Manager and top Divisional Manager in North America. In 2008, Mr. Walsh was promoted to Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, responsible for the Western Division of U.S. Sales.