GC Appointments

Allianz Life promoted Gretchen Cepek to general counsel, replacing outgoing Chief Legal Officer Maureen Phillips. In her new role, Cepek will act as chief legal advisor for the executive management team, and will oversee litigation, corporate governance, product development, special investigations and government relations. Cepek joined the insurer in 2009 from Woodbury Financial Services. She formerly spent 12 years in the complex commercial litigation practice at Querry & Harrow.

Biopharmaceutical company Novamax Inc. named John A. Herrmann III vice president and general counsel. Herrmann joined the company in 2010, mostly recently serving as executive director of legal affairs and corporate secretary. He also has held in-house positions at Ore Pharmaceuticals, Celera Genomics and Baxter Healthcare.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. appointed Charlotte Rasche as its executive vice president. Rasche also will assume the general counsel role in April, replacing outgoing GC Peter E. Fisher. She joins Prosperity after 15 years at Bracewell & Giuliani, where she was a partner in the financial institutions group.