Home    :    Resource Center    :    News

Collins opens Philadelphia office

Three local reinsurance industry executives join growing brokerage firm

May 14, 2007 -- Collins, the nation's fastest growing major reinsurance intermediary, has opened a new office in Philadelphia, "establishing a local presence and expanding our services and capabilities in the mid-Atlantic region," President and Chief Executive Officer Pat Denzer announced today.

"The independence of our firm provides our brokers with an unparalleled ability to focus on the needs of our clients," Mr. Denzer said. "As a reinsurance intermediary, it is important for us to be a part of the established, yet dynamic, insurance community of Philadelphia and other cities in the area.

"We're also pleased that our new office will be staffed by three successful industry veterans whose knowledge and expertise are well-known to executives of the insurance and reinsurance industry," Mr. Denzer added.

The brokers who have joined Collins in Philadelphia include:

  • Robert L. Duffield, senior vice president. Mr. Duffield's 30-year career includes positions with reinsurance intermediaries Towers Perrin, Intere, Greig Fester and, most recently, Benfield, where he was senior vice president. His background includes work with property-casualty insurers and development of special expertise in surety, trade credit and political risk.
  • Diane M. Larzelere, senior vice president. Ms. Larzelere began her reinsurance broking career with Towers Perrin in 1971. She also worked at Cole, Booth, Potter in New York, a reinsurance broker that eventually became part of the Aon Corporation; Greig Fester, in New York City; and, most recently, at Benfield in Philadelphia, as senior vice president. She holds a bachelor's degree from Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J., and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.
  • Maureen F. Brittingham, vice president. A reinsurance broker in Philadelphia since 1985, Ms. Brittingham has worked with a variety of property-casualty insurance clients for such brokers as Intere, Towers Perrin, Greig Fester and Benfield. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia.