Executives.

Oxford Replaces President

Oxford Health Plans Inc., Trumbull, Conn., has replaced its second-in-command with the company's leader of medical delivery and technology.

Charles M. Schneider, the company's president and chief operating officer, left the company and was succeeded by Charles G. Berg, who has been with the company three years as executive vice president of medical delivery and technology. Berg oversaw the company's medical networks and technology initiatives.

Roberts Named President-CEO Of General Star Management

General Re Corp., Stamford, Conn., has named Patricia H. Roberts president and chief executive officer of General Star Management Co., its excess and surplus lines operation.

Roberts succeeds Kevin P. Brooks, who served as chairman, president and CEO. Brooks left the company after 32 years.

Roberts joined General Re in 1977 and transferred to General Star in 1978, where she has held a variety of underwriting and management positions.

Joseph P. Brandon, executive vice president of General Re Corp., has been appointed chairman of General Star Management.

Hartford Life Promotes Kerzner

Hartford Life, Simsbury, Conn., has promoted Bob Kerzner to executive vice president.

Kerzner was named director of individual life in 1998. Through his efforts, the division saw an increase in sales from $163 million to more than $200 million last year, Hartford said.

Kerzner joined Hartford Life in 1974 and has held a number of key positions with the company since that time.

New CEO to Lead Venture For Humana, Fla. Blues Units

Availity L.L.C., a joint venture between Navigy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida, and HUM-e-FL Inc., a subsidiary of Humana Inc., has appointed Julie D. Klapstein the company's first chief executive officer.

Klapstein comes to Availity from Kirkland, Wash., where she was president and chief executive officer of Phycom Corp., a medical-management automation company. She has more than 24 years of experience in the health-care field, with a background in business management, operations and development.

Physicians and other healthcare providers in the Florida networks of the founding members will be able to transact business with both companies through www.availity.com, an online Web portal that is expected to be operational in the fall.

An estimated 15,000 physicians in Florida will have access to Availity through the Internet. That number could increase as other health plans join the collaborative effort.

21st Century CFO Resigns

Bob Tschudy, senior vice president and chief financial officer of 21st Century Insurance Group, Woodland Hills, Calif., has resigned to pursue other interests, the company said.

Tschudy, 52, joined the company in 1995. He also served as an officer for 21st Century Insurance Company of Arizona.

Tschudy's replacement has not been chosen, said Marty Cooper, a spokesman for 21st Century.

"Bob played an important role in returning 21st Century to its strong financial position following the Northridge earthquake," Bruce W. Marlow, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "We wish him the best in his new endeavors."

The 1994 Northridge, Calif. earthquake is still a legal and financial issue for 21st Century. A Los Angeles law firm in January filed a lawsuit against the company seeking class-action status on behalf of policyholders.

The law firm Quisenberry & Kabateck filed the lawsuit on behalf of policyholders who say their property-damage claims stemming from the quake were allegedly mishandled.

Northwestern Mutual Promotes Zore to CEO

Edward J. Zore has been named chief executive officer of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., Milwaukee. Zore previously was president of the company.

Zore's election to chief executive was approved by the company's board of trustees May 23.

James D. Erieson, 65, the current chairman and CEO of Northwestern Mutual, will continue as chairman until his retirement July 31. He will remain on the board after his retirement.

Ericson has been CEO since Oct. 1, 1993, as part of his 36-year career with Northwestern Mutual.

Since joining the company's investment department in 1969, Zore has held many investment positions during his 32-year tenure. He was chief financial officer from 1995 to 1998 and chief investment officer from 1990 to 1998.

He was elected executive vice president in 1995, and in 1998 he moved from the investment area to lead the life and disability insurance operations. He was named president March 31, 2000.