The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. - HIG STOCK NEWS

The Hartford has appointed Tony Paschali as head of the Southeast Division for its Middle and Large Commercial Insurance business. He will oversee sales and underwriting operations across 12 Southeastern states, reporting to Tracey Ant. Paschali has over 18 years of experience at The Hartford, most recently serving as regional vice president in Atlanta. His leadership aims to enhance relationships and expand business results in the region.

The Hartford announced executive changes effective August 2, with Deepa Soni becoming the new head of Technology, Data, Analytics & Information Security, and John Kinney taking on expanded responsibilities in Operations alongside Claims. Soni, who joined in 2019, has significantly improved technology capabilities, while Kinney, with The Hartford since 2003, will enhance customer experience. Mary Nasenbenny will succeed Kinney as chief claims officer. These changes aim to bolster The Hartford's commitment to innovation and operational efficiency.

The Hartford has appointed Gretchen Thompson as head of Construction, Inland Marine, Excess Solutions, and Complex Liability Solutions within its Middle & Large Commercial business unit. Thompson succeeds Adrien Robinson and will report to A. Morris “Mo” Tooker. With extensive experience since joining The Hartford in 2005, she has been pivotal in driving growth in the Western Division. Thompson, recognized on the Business Insurance Women to Watch list in 2016, has a finance background from General Electric and a degree from Boston College.

The Hartford has appointed Adrien Robinson as head of Global Specialty, succeeding Vincent Tizzio, who is leaving the company. Robinson, with over 20 years of insurance experience, previously led Complex Casualty, Construction, and Marine divisions at The Hartford. Under Tizzio's leadership, Global Specialty has seen strong results since its establishment in 2019. Robinson's technical expertise includes a law degree in environmental and energy law and a background in environmental engineering.

The Hartford has expanded its group life and disability offerings through ProtectPro, targeting medical professionals with flexible plan designs and new coverage options. This includes specialty coverage for non-physician providers, a student loan credit benefit for those partially returning to work during long-term disability, and a medical premium supplement for COBRA expenses. Recognizing the projected growth in employment for non-physician roles, these enhancements aim to assist medical practices in attracting and retaining talent.

The Hartford has declared a dividend of $0.35 per share of common stock, payable on July 2, 2021 for shareholders on record as of June 1, 2021. Additionally, a dividend of $375 on each Series G preferred stock (equivalent to $0.375 per depository share) will be paid on August 16, 2021 to Series G shareholders recorded by August 1, 2021. This reflects The Hartford's commitment to returning value to its shareholders while maintaining a strong market position.

The Hartford published findings from its 2021 Future of Benefits Study, revealing a significant stigma about taking leave among U.S. workers. 31% fear workplace repercussions, with 29% perceiving a negative stigma. Younger generations feel this more acutely; 50% of Gen Z and younger Millennials express fear compared to 16% of Baby Boomers. Despite this, 75% of employers expanded benefits related to paid time off. The study also shows a positive shift in employee attitudes towards benefits, with 84% valuing their insurance more than before the pandemic.

The Hartford is investing $2 million over two years to support Move United, a leader in adaptive sports, to launch The Hartford’s Competition Series and a digital fitness platform. The funding will enhance access to adaptive sports for over 600 participants across two major events in 2021 and contribute to a digital platform offering various online adaptive sports classes. The Hartford has a long history of advocating for adaptive sports, impacting over 21,000 people and donating more than 2,800 pieces of adaptive equipment since 2019.