Farmers Insurance Group Names Senior VP of State Operations

* Paul Hopkins, chief marketing officer of Farmers Insurance Group, has been named the company’s senior vice president of state operations. He will oversee the Los Angeles-based insurer’s executives in all states except California and Texas. He will be based in L.A.

* George Abe, formerly manager of business development for Cisco Systems, has joined Santa Monica-based venture fund Palomar Ventures as a partner, where he will focus on investments in telecommunications and broadband technologies. Palomar is an $80-million fund.

* Lego Co., the Danish toy maker, has named Mark Germyn president and general manager of LegoLand California, its theme park in Carlsbad. Germyn was recently general manager for Warner Bros.’ Movie World theme park in Dusseldorf, Germany.

* CarsDirect.com, an automotive e-commerce site based in L.A., has named Christine Bucklin chief operating officer and Debra Domeyer chief information officer. Bucklin formerly was an entrepreneur-in-residence at Idealab in Pasadena, and Domeyer worked at PG&E.;