HM Insurance Group Announces New Operational Leadership

After a long career with countless contributions to HM Insurance Group (HM), Dom Palmieri, chief operating officer, will retire in June. To position HM well as Palmieri transitions away from his post, the company has hired Eric Berg as senior vice president, Reinsurance, Partnerships and Operations, and promoted Kristen Baker to vice president, Operations.

“It’s an important part of my job to make sure we have the right people in place to lead our organization into the future,” Mark Lawrence, president, HM Insurance Group, said. “And it’s a special challenge when someone with nearly 25 years of service to the company is retiring. So, to ensure a smooth transition, Eric and Kristen are starting their new positions while Dom is still here to provide the kind of guidance that can come only from someone with his depth of experience.”

In his senior leadership role, Berg will manage HM’s overall operations, along with the company’s reinsurance and Blue Cross and Blue Shield partner relationships, while Baker will be responsible for operations, Stop Loss and Managed Care Reinsurance claims, commissions, billing and premium collection.

Berg comes to HM from Everest Reinsurance Company where he has worked since 2012 as vice president of A&H Operations and Claims. Prior to his time at Everest Re, he was an associate at Riker Danzig, a prominent law firm in Morristown, New Jersey, where he worked with a number of insurance companies managing reinsurance disputes and arbitrations. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has a J.D. from Rutgers University Law School – Newark.

“I’ve worked closely with Eric in the past,” Lawrence said. “He’s a bright, knowledgeable problem-solver who understands programs and reinsurance relationships. I know he will be a good fit with our culture and with our team.”

Baker, who has been with HM since May 2000, has held a number of roles on the Operations side of the business, including, most recently, director of Claims. Prior to her time at HM, she worked for five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is a graduate of Robert Morris University and a certified public accountant (CPA).

“I’ve been impressed with Kristen’s efforts to improve our processes and her commercial view on dealing with some of our newer programs,” Lawrence said. “I know she will continue to provide excellent business insight and strong leadership to her team – and to HM.”