DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Group plc ("XL"
or the "Company") (NYSE: XL) today announced that Valerie F. Gooding has been appointed to the
Company's Board of Directors. Ms. Gooding's appointment will become
effective at the Company's April board meeting.
For 10 years, Ms. Gooding served as the CEO of British United
Provident Association (BUPA), a leading independent health insurer
and provider, where she led a major expansion of the company.
Under Ms. Gooding's leadership, BUPA diversified its strategy
and grew operations outside of the United
Kingdom to include Australia, New
Zealand, Spain,
Saudi Arabia, Denmark and the
United States. Prior to leading BUPA, Ms. Gooding spent more
than 20 years at British Airways, where she held a number of
positions, including head of sales and marketing, division director
of business units and director of Asia
Pacific.
Commenting on the appointment, XL's Chairman, Robert Glauber, said: "We are delighted to have
Val join the XL Board. As XL continues to execute its strategic
growth ambitions, I believe that Val's extensive and diverse global
business experience will serve us well. We look forward to Val's
many contributions."
Ms. Gooding, a citizen of the United
Kingdom, currently serves as the non-executive chairman of
the board of Premier Farnell plc and chairs the board's nominating
committee. She also sits on the board of Standard Chartered plc.
She was formerly a director of the British Broadcasting Company
(BBC), J. Sainsbury plc and BAA plc. Ms. Gooding's extensive pro
bono positions include acting as a Trustee and Deputy Chairman of
the British Museum and as a Board member of the Association of
British Insurers.
For services to business, Ms. Gooding was appointed a Commander
of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2002 and was previously
recognized as one of Fortune magazine's 50 Most Powerful Women in
Business. She holds an honors degree from Warwick University.
The Company also announced that Ellen
Thrower, who has served as an Independent Director of XL
since 1995, will retire from the Board effective immediately. Mr.
Glauber said: "We are most grateful to Ellen for her long service
to XL, stretching out over more than 15 years. As she alters her
professional focus, we can understand her decision to step down
now. She has been a valuable presence, from her work on our Audit
and Nominating, Governance & External Affairs committees, to
the perspective she brought as the former Executive Director of St.
John's School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science
(from 2001-2010), her impact has been meaningful and will be
missed."
About XL Group plc
XL Group plc, through its subsidiaries, is a global insurance
and reinsurance company providing property, casualty and specialty
products to industrial, commercial and professional firms,
insurance companies and other enterprises throughout the world. XL
is the company clients look to for answers to their most complex
risks and to help move their world forward. Its principal offices
are located at No.1 Hatch Street Upper, 4th Floor, Dublin 2, Ireland. To learn more, visit
www.xlgroup.com.
Contact:
David Radulski
Investor Relations
(203) 964-3470
Carol Parker Trott
Media Relations
(441) 294-7290
SOURCE XL Group plc