ATLANTA, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA; CRDB), the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions, has named claims executive Terry Hunt to the newly created position of chief executive officer of Crawford Global Technical Services (GTS(SM)) in the United States.

In addition, Richard Lafayette, managing director for GTS in the southeast and an executive general adjuster, has been named to the newly created position of chief technical officer for GTS, reporting to Hunt.

Hunt, who most recently served as vice president and managing director for GTS in the west, brings to his new position a strong record of developing and maintaining critical business relationships. He came to Crawford in 1990 as a general adjuster and advanced to supervisory and management positions before joining GTS in 2000. In his new role, he will focus on further developing Crawford's GTS business in the United States.

Lafayette, who will continue in his current leadership position in the southeast, joined Crawford in 1974 as a trainee and advanced to the role of property general adjuster. He was promoted to branch manager in New York in 1986 and then became the first executive general adjuster for Crawford in 1990. In 2003, he was promoted to managing director of GTS. His new responsibilities as chief technical officer include working closely with senior executive general adjusters and further developing future GTS adjusters.

"Terry and Rich have been a key part of our operations for many years and have played instrumental roles in helping to transform and grow our business," said Kevin B. Frawley, chief executive officer for Property & Casualty - Americas, to whom Hunt reports. "They bring extensive leadership, business development, relationship management and technical adjusting skills to their new roles, and I am confident they will help us continue to develop our business."

About Crawford

Based in Atlanta, Ga., Crawford & Company (www.crawfordandcompany.com) is the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry as well as self-insured entities, with an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 countries. The Crawford System of Claims Solutions(SM) offers comprehensive, integrated claims services, business process outsourcing and consulting services for major product lines including property and casualty claims management, workers compensation claims and medical management, and legal settlement administration. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbols CRDA and CRDB.

SOURCE Crawford & Company