SEATTLE -- Collins, the rapidly growing reinsurance intermediary that continues to expand its U.S. operations and services, has named Scott Swanson, a 20-year veteran of the reinsurance industry on the West Coast, as senior vice president of the company's Western Region.

In his new position, Swanson will be based in Seattle and will be responsible for the company's West Coast operations, which also include offices in San Francisco and Orange County, Calif. He will lead their efforts in providing reinsurance brokerage services to property-casualty, life and health insurers, as well as managing general agents, in the western United States.

"We are very proud that an executive with Scott's successful track record and reputation will lead our brokers in the western region," commented Collins President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Denzer. "His knowledge and experience will be a great benefit to our clients."

Since last December, Collins has added four new offices, including the Seattle office, which it opened in May.

A native of Seattle, Swanson has spent his entire career as a reinsurance broker and has developed a strong background in property catastrophe reinsurance. Most recently, he managed the regional property-casualty brokerage team in the Seattle office of Guy Carpenter and Company, Inc., whose clients included regional companies based in the Pacific Northwest and in Hawaii.

He began his career in 1985 in the Seattle office of John F. Sullivan Co., which merged in 1986 with the Sedgwick brokerage firm. That company, in turn, was acquired by Guy Carpenter in 1998.
Swanson holds a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Washington, as well as the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Collins' West Coast operations formerly were headed by Robert Kimmel, manager of the San Francisco office, who was promoted to executive vice president and co-leader of Collins' national sales and service activities.