BB&T Insurance announces promotions to vice chairman and agency president

RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- BB&T Insurance today said it has promoted David Pruett to vice chairman of insurance operations and Wes Dasher to president of BB&T Insurance Services Inc., the largest BB&T Insurance subsidiary.

Pruett most recently served as chief administrative officer for BB&T Insurance, and Dasher served as chief agency executive officer for BB&T Insurance Services Inc.

"I am pleased to announce these key promotions for a pair of leaders who have made tremendous contributions to our success in recent years," said BB&T Insurance Chairman Wade Reece.

Pruett is a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C. He joined BB&T in 1999 when BB&T Insurance acquired Blue Ridge/Burke Insurance Agency Inc., where he served as president. He will continue to oversee the administration of all BB&T insurance operations, which consists of 134 locations throughout the United States.

"David has demonstrated a stellar level of leadership to BB&T's entire insurance division, and his contributions have been an important component of our success," Reece said.

Dasher, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, joined Boyle- Vaughan Associates in 1995 and was later named agency manager. Boyle-Vaughan was acquired by BB&T in 1996. As president of BB&T Insurance Services Inc., Dasher will continue to direct insurance agency operations, including sales, client service, marketing and carrier relations.

"Wes has demonstrated great commitment, leadership, performance and integrity in all his endeavors and will continue to provide strong, insightful leadership for BB&T Insurance Services Inc.," Reece said.

Raleigh-based BB&T Insurance, the nation's seventh largest insurance broker, was founded in 1922 and is wholly owned by Branch Banking and Trust Company. It operates 134 insurance agencies in the United States.

Branch Banking and Trust Company is the principal subsidiary of Winston- Salem N.C.-based BB&T Corporation . With $130.8 billion in assets and more than 1,500 financial centers in 11 states, BB&T Corp. is the nation's 14th largest financial holding company. More information about the company is available at BBT.com.