The New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF) recently elected its news officers and board of directors, selecting John Sargent to lead the group through the end of 2010.

John Sargent

Sargent, the director of MetLife Auto & Home’s special investigation unit, will lead the alliance, comprised of insurance companies in New York who educate consumers about the costs of insurance fraud and what they can do to avoid it.

Joining Sargent as officers serving the NYAAIF through Dec. 31, 2010, are: Jim Berrigan, special investigations unit manager for Crum & Forster Insurance, as vice-chair; Jack Houston, special investigations unit manager with New York Automobile Insurance Plan, as treasurer; Kevin O’Connor, special investigations unit manager for Interboro Insurance, as secretary; and Ellen Melchionni, president of the New York Insurance Association, as president.

As chair, Sargent is the volunteer leader, responsible for the overall direction of the alliance, while Melchionni, the group’s president, is responsible for overseeing the operations of the alliance, such as implementing policies and decisions of the board, according to the NYAAIF.

The NYAAIF also elected a new board of directors to serve a three-year term ending Dec. 31, 2012.  They are: Harvey Aloni, vice president of claims for AutoOne Insurance Company; Sharyl Derenthal, special investigative unit manager for GEICO; Dennis Jay, executive director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud; Kenneth Jones, vice president of investigative services for Travelers; James Potts, Jr., vice president of special investigations for New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company; and Francis X. Sztuk, national special investigative unit manager with Hanover Insurance Group.