Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Iowa announced that Brent Walker has been hired in the new position of chief brokerage officer, effective immediately. The West Des Moines-based crop insurance coverage made the hire to establish a new brokerage division, a spokesperson said. Within his role as CBO, Walker will be responsible for enhancing Farmers Mutual Hail’s current property and casualty product line and assumed reinsurance portfolios by bringing commercial coverage options, such as workers’ compensation and other commercial products, to the company’s agents, reinsurance clients and policyholders. Before joining FMH, Walker was most recently executive vice president and head of farm, ranch and equine for Global Indemnity, based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. He brings more than 20 years of broad insurance industry experience to the role, including executive leadership positions in property and casualty, agribusiness, corporate strategy and risk management. FMH President and CEO Shannon Rutledge said Walker’s “proven track record and unique breadth of experience makes him well equipped to lead this new division of FMH.” There are currently no other staffing or resource changes associated with the new division, according to a spokesperson.