NEW YORK, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Group plc's
(NYSE: XL) North America Construction unit is putting their
Construction risk management expertise closer to their brokers and
the contractors they serve by establishing a west coast
underwriting operation in San
Francisco.
According to Gary Kaplan,
President of XL Group's North America Construction business, "While
the market may recover at its own slow pace, there are good
contractors out there who don't want to be complacent and wisely
use risk management strategies to protect their profitability and
even give themselves an advantage in this competitive market. We
want to be there for them to help."
"That's why we're moving some of our underwriting experts to
where our clients need us," said Mr. Kaplan. "We're setting up our
west coast presence with two very seasoned underwriters including
Michael Simone, currently Executive
Underwriter of Construction Primary Casualty and Markus Bachmann, Vice President, Builder's Risk.
Mike and Markus are relocating from New
York to XL's San Francisco
office where they can work more closely with our local brokers and
clients. With this move, Mike is promoted to Regional Vice
President to manage our Western Region's Construction
Operations."
Mr. Simone joined XL last year from Old Republic Construction
Program Group where he served as Product Manager on all loss
sensitive accounts. He added another 16 years of underwriting
experience to XL's Construction team with positions at Reliance
National and Crum & Forster Insurance Company. Mr.
Bachmann originally joined XL's Energy group in June 2010 and transferred to its Construction
team at the end of 2010 to underwrite contractors' Builder's Risk
insurance coverages, bringing more than two decades of Builder's
Risk and global underwriting experience gathered during his tenure
at Allianz and Zurich in the US as
well as positions with Gerling Insurance Group, ABB Insurance
Brokers, Union Reinsurance and Winterthur Insurance Company in
Switzerland.
About XL's Insurance Operations
XL Group plc's insurance companies offer property, casualty,
professional and specialty insurance products globally. Businesses
that are moving the world forward choose XL as their partner. To
learn more, visit www.xlgroup.com/insurance.
XL Group is the global brand used by XL Group plc's insurance
subsidiaries.
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
SOURCE XL Group plc