What’s New: In Brief (May 28, 2009)

State Farm has appointed Barbara Bellissimo as chief agent and senior vice president for State Farm in Canada.Bellissimo joined State Farm in 1986 “and has successfully managed positions of increased responsibility in Canada for underwriting, training and field sales consulting,” a State Farm release says.In her new role, she will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, and overseeing the sales and operations of State Farm in Canada.

Ace Ltd. has named Brian Dowd, CEO of North America insurance, to the additional post of vice chairman, Ace Ltd. and Ace Group Holdings.In addition to his current responsibilities, including Ace’s property and casualty operations in Canada, the United States and Bermuda, Dowd will now assume corporate-wide executive responsibility for the Ace Group’s global product underwriting boards and the strategy and purchase of the company’s reinsurance programs.