June 25, 2018 by matray

Earlier this month, Mutual Insurance Co. of Arizona (MICA) announced the appointment of Timothy (Tim) J. Friers as its new underwriting vice president. Friers will join MICA as vice president on July 9, 2018, and will become underwriting vice president upon the retirement of Mary K. Hedin. Hedin will retire in August 2018 after more than 18 years of service with MICA and a total of thirty-seven years in the insurance industry. During the one-month overlap, Mary and Tim will work together to assure a smooth transition. Hedin joined MICA after 19 years’ experience in the medical professional liability insurance industry. During her time at MICA, she was responsible for underwriting hospital system risks, converting MICA’s underwriting policy management system, transitioning underwriting files from paper to an imaging system and bringing on more than 2,600 new policyholders during a hard market. Prior to joining MICA, she held management positions with both AIG and COPIC Insurance Co. “We are pleased to welcome Tim to MICA’s senior management team," said James Garland, MD, MICA chairman and chief executive. "His extensive experience in the industry will undoubtedly be an asset to MICA and will help shape MICA’s future.” Friers comes to MICA from his most recent position as senior vice president and chief operating officer at NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co., where his responsibilities included overseeing underwriting, policyholder services, billing, claims and risk management for all NORCAL Group companies. Prior to that appointment in 2015, he was the senior vice president and chief underwriting officer at NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co. Previously, Friers served for 10 years as vice president-underwriting and policyholder services at PMSLIC Insurance Co. (now known as NORCAL Specialty Insurance Co., a subsidiary of NORCAL Mutual Insurance Co.), a medical professional liability carrier that was formed by the Pennsylvania Medical Society in 1978.