Chubb appointed a 25-year insurance veteran to lead Commercial Insurance operations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. XL Catlin made key leadership appointments for its Reinsurance operations in Bermuda and London. The Navigators Group named a new independent director to its board. ArgoGlobal tapped an Endurance exec to join its Marine Hull sector. CNA announced the retirement of its chief administration officer.

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Chubb appointed Jeffrey Updyke, a 25-year industry veteran, as regional manager for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions of its Commercial Insurance division in North America.

He will report to Steven Pozzi, senior vice president of Chubb Group and division president of North American Commercial Insurance.

Part of Chubb since 1991, Updyke most recently served as regional chief operating officer for the company’s Northeast Region.

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XL Catlin announced two key leadership appointments for its reinsurance operations in Bermuda and London, both effective January 2017.

Jonathan Gale, currently chief executive of London Reinsurance, will take over as chief executive of Bermuda Reinsurance, subject to Bermuda Immigration approval. Rob Littlemore, currently underwriting director of London Reinsurance, is being promoted to chief executive of London Reinsurance.

Both will report to Charles Cooper, currently chief executive of Bermuda Reinsurance, who will become chief executive of XL Catlin’s Reinsurance business group as of Jan. 1, 2017.

Gale joined Catlin in 2002 and held progressively senior underwriting roles before becoming chief executive of London Reinsurance upon the creation of XL Catlin in May 2015. Before joining the company, he was an underwriter with R F Bailey Underwriting Agencies Ltd. and CNA Reinsurance.

Littlemore started his career as a Lloyd’s broker. He became Catlin’s head of Reinsurance in London in 2008 and subsequently was XL Catlin’s underwriting director of London Reinsurance in May 2015.

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The Navigators Group Inc. named Meryl D. Hartzband as an independent director, effective immediately. She will serve on the Compensation and Finance committees of the board of directors.

Hartzband is currently a director of Vanbridge Holdings Ltd. and previously served as a director of ACE Limited, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., AXIS Capital Holdings and Alterra Capital Holdings.

She was a founding partner of private equity firm Stone Point Capital and served as the firm’s chief investment officer. Prior to that, she served as a managing director at J.P. Morgan & Co.

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ArgoGlobal, the Lloyd’s insurer and member of Argo Group, appointed Michael Thompson as hull class underwriter. He will report to Steve O’Gorman, head of Marine.

Thompson joins from Endurance Syndicate 5151, where as head of hull and liability underwriting he was tasked with the launch and development of its marine portfolio. Prior to this he held the role of senior hull and liability underwriter at Swiss Re.

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CNA announced that Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer Tom Pontarelli has decided to retire, effective Dec. 31, 2016, after nearly 43 years in the insurance industry.

“During his 19 years at CNA, Tom has made significant contributions toward the company’s success. He has been a trusted advisor to many colleagues across all levels of CNA,” said Dino E. Robusto, the company’s chairman and CEO.

Source: Chubb, XL Catlin, The Navigators Group, ArgoGlobal, CNA