Symetra has hired two veteran medical stop-loss insurance professionals to cultivate new and support ongoing relationships with third-party administrators. Based in Boston, the two new directors of TPA Markets — Judy VerPlanck-Elliott and David Guy — will advance the company’s strategy of expanding its stop-loss distribution network and managed care capabilities. Both are from R.E. Moulton, Inc., the former underwriting affiliate of American United Life Insurance Company. Symetra acquired the renewal rights for stop-loss policies issued by AUL in July 2011. … The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America announces the acquisition of MasterCare DENTS which expands its dental preferred provider organization network in the Southwest and strengthens Guardian’s dental network of more than 79,000 dentists at over 181,000 locations. … D’Ann Whitehead and Carol Malenka join Mercer as principals and health and benefits consultants in its San Francisco office. They will both report to Nadya O’Connell, partner and senior health and benefits consultant. Whitehead has more than 25 years of experience and will lead Mercer’s Western US Total Health Management practice, which helps clients improve the health and productivity of their workforces while reducing overall health care costs. Malenka also brings more than 25 years of experience to her new role and will assist clients in the Northern California market with health and welfare compliance issues.