Donegal Insurance Group promotes two VPs as company grows

Marietta-based Donegal Insurance Group promoted Dan DeLamater executive vice president and COO, effective this month. 

DeLamater fills the COO role most recently held by current president and CEO Kevin Burke, which had remained vacant since 2018. He will oversee key divisions of the company, including Claims, Enterprise Analytics, Field Operations and national Accounts, Human Resources, Internal Audit and risk, Investments, and Legal. 

“As our organization continues to grow and we implement new products, systems, and processes to support our future state, it was time to fill the chief operating officer role to support these initiatives,” Burke said. “Dan has done an exceptional job of overseeing Field Operations and National Accounts. His prior underwriting experience, matched with his knowledge of field operations and administration, makes him the ideal candidate for this important role. Dan and I share a common vision and success path for the Donegal organization, and I look forward to what we can achieve together as a team.” 

DeLamater has acted as Donegal’s senior vice president and head of Field Operations since January 2022. Prior to that, he was head of the National Accounts Team, formed in 2020. An experienced underwriter, underwriting manager, and marketing manager, DeLamater also serves as president of Southern Mutual (a member of Donegal Insurance Group). 

“In 2024, our Donegal team has a unique opportunity to put our fingerprints on the transformation and success of the organization,” DeLamater said. “I am excited to continue working with our talented team members to execute on the opportunities in front of us. By ensuring that

we capitalize on our many investments of time, talent and resources, Donegal will continue fulfilling our mission of providing peace of mind to our policyholders and being there when it matters most.”   

Also announced today, Noland Deas will succeed DeLamater as senior vice president of Field Operations & National Accounts.  

With three decades of industry experience, including 18 years at Donegal, Deas has overseen operations as regional vice president of the Virginia/North Carolina region since January 2020, before assuming leadership of the entire Southeast Region as senior regional vice president in May of 2022. 

Based in Donegal’s Glen Allen office near Richmond, Virginia, Deas has worked on both the agency and company sides of the business, having held roles in sales, agency management, underwriting and marketing, in addition to regional leadership. 

“This is yet another leadership role that we are able to fill with a highly qualified internal candidate who understands Donegal, our independent agency relationships, and our colleagues across the country,” DeLamater said. “Noland Deas brings a unique skill set to this role, and I’m confident that he’s the right person to lead our marketing efforts, both internally and with our valued agents.”