DR Darwin Professional Underwriters

FARMINGTON, Conn., May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Darwin (NYSE:DR) is excited to announce the creation of two new product-centric underwriting divisions, the health care division and the errors and omissions (E&O) division. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060829/NETU014LOGO ) Under the leadership of senior vice president and national practice leader, Cynthia Oard, the newly created health care division combines all of Darwin's health care-related professional liability teams into one unit encompassing medical professional liability, health care management liability, and managed care E&O liability. Darwin, an acknowledged leader in health care specialty liability coverages, is combining its proven expertise in underwriting, risk management, and claims handling to better serve this important market. The organizational changes announced today will better position the company to both maintain and build on its leadership role in delivering innovative health care specialty products. Cindy Oard brings over 20 years of demonstrated industry background and experience to the position of health care practice leader, where she will oversee underwriting and distribution management for the full suite of health care products. Susan Chmieleski, APRN, CPHRM, FASHRM, JD, has been promoted to senior vice president and serves as risk management lead and health care product manager. She continues her oversight of the industry-leading risk management services that are delivered with each of Darwin's professional liability products. Sue's role has now been expanded, as she will partner with Cindy Oard to enhance and diversify Darwin's overall health care product portfolio. For additional information about Cindy's background, please visit her biography page at http://www.darwinpro.com/mkt/pdf/Oard.pdf. To contact her directly, please dial 860 284-1322 or email her at . For additional information about Sue's background, please visit her biography page at http://www.darwinpro.com/mkt/pdf/Chmieleski.pdf. To contact her directly, please dial 860 284-1954 or email her at . "Darwin's success in the health care liability marketplace is already clear and well-established," states Cindy Oard. "The new divisional structure will allow us to align resources even more effectively, in order to continue the growth of our health care franchise," adds Sue Chmieleski. The E&O division will be headed by Nicole Haggerty, senior vice president and national E&O practice leader. Combining a number of existing practice areas (including insurance agents, technology, media and lawyers professional liability practices), the E&O division has been created to maximize operating efficiencies, benefiting both Darwin and its producers and insureds. Nicole Haggerty brings to her new role over seventeen years of experience in the insurance industry, with twelve years dedicated exclusively to professional and management liability lines. Her background in claims management, underwriting, product development, and program management provide a strong platform from which to lead the professional underwriting initiatives at Darwin. For additional information about Nicole's background, please visit her biography page at http://www.darwinpro.com/mkt/pdf/Haggerty.pdf. To contact her directly, please dial 860 284-1968 or email her at . "Creating the health care and E&O divisions is a natural evolution for Darwin's structure and enables us to more efficiently create and deliver responsive products to our customers," says Stephen Sills, president and CEO of Darwin. Both the health care and E&O divisions will report directly to Darwin's chief underwriting officer, David Newman. About Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Darwin is a specialty insurance group based in Farmington, Connecticut. The company is focused on the professional liability insurance market and underwrites directors and officers ("D&O") liability for public and private companies, errors and omissions ("E&O") liability insurance, medical malpractice liability insurance, and other specialty coverage. Darwin member companies include Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc., Darwin National Assurance Company (DNA), and Darwin Select Insurance Company (Darwin Select). DNA and Darwin Select have earned a financial strength rating of "A- (Excellent)" from A.M. Best Company. Darwin is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol, "DR." For more about Darwin visit http://www.darwinpro.com/. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060829/NETU014LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Darwin CONTACT: Drake Manning of Darwin Professional, +1-860-284-1500, Web site: http://www.darwinpro.com/

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