The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc.said Neal L. Sullivan, president of Sullivan Financial Group inMahopac, N.Y., has been named chairman of the board.

The action at the association's meeting earlier this month alsosaw Lane S. Rubin named chairman-elect. Mr. Rubin is managingmember of Excel Coverage Group, LLC in Westbury, N.Y.

David M. Gelia, executive vice president of United InsuranceAgency Inc. in Amherst, N.Y., was named secretary-treasurer.

Steven J. Spiro, president of Spiro Risk Management in ValleyStream, N.Y., was re-elected as national director.

Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Rubin and Mr. Gelia will each serve one-yearterms, while Mr. Spiro's second term will consist of threeyears.

IIABNY reported that in his acceptance speech Mr. Sullivanwarned of an industry that often believes cost is more importantthan coverage or service and pointed out that marketing a complexproduct such as auto insurance based on price jeopardizes theability of consumers to protect “themselves and theirfamilies.”

He went on to say this practice could lead to a “terrible publicperception of the insurance industry.”