CHICAGO, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago office of Lockton, the world's largest privately held insurance broker, has expanded its expertise in the areas of trade credit and political risk with the addition of Heidi Hepburn as Vice President and Account Executive. She is responsible for the production, placement, and servicing of Lockton's trade credit and political risk business.

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With nearly 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Hepburn most recently ran her own trade credit and political risk insurance brokerage, AmeriGlobal Trade Risk Consulting, LLC — a firm she established in 2009. Prior to that, she spent 14 years with Marsh & McLennan, where she was responsible for a number of the Trade Credit Group's emerging markets programs, captive insurance arrangements, new business procurement, and syndicated program structures. Before that, Hepburn had an 11-year career with CIGNA International.

"Heidi Hepburn brings tremendous entrepreneurial spirit to Lockton," said Casey Warnecke, Chief Operating Officer of Lockton's Chicago office. "Her deep experience in working in the trade credit and political risk arenas will further elevate the standards of insight, service, and excellence we deliver to our growing practice."

A published author, Hepburn has lectured on risk management, trade credit and political risk, and captive insurance at RIMS, the World Insurance Congress, the Luxembourg Risk Financing & Risk Management Rendezvous, the Risk & Insurance Research Group, the World Affairs Council, and the Project Finance Institute. She holds undergraduate and MBA degrees in finance from Rutgers University, and is a member of the Worldwide Who's Who of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs.

About Lockton

More than 4,100 professionals at Lockton provide more than 15,000 clients around the world with insurance, benefits, and risk management services, offering an uncommon level of client service. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, Lockton has grown to become the largest privately held insurance broker in the world and 9th largest overall. Independent researcher Greenwich Associates awarded Lockton its 2011 Service Excellence Award for risk management for large companies. For three consecutive years, Business Insurance has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance."

SOURCE Lockton