A former Hartford executive is joining the board of directors at AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. appointed two new independent directors to its board of directors, including an ex-Travelers Insurance executive.

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A former executive with The Hartford Financial Services Group is joining the board of directors at AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd.

Lizabeth Zlatkus‘ appointment is effective March 15, 2019. She’s an industry veteran and previously held several senior management positions at The Hartford during her 28-year tenure at the company. Zlatkus will serve as a member of AXIS Capital’s Audit and Finance committees. Her appointment brings the size of the company’s board of directors to 12 members, 10 of whom are independent directors.

Zlatkus has an extensive management background in finance, risk and operations, as well as audit, compensation and board governance experience. She currently sits on the boards of Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. and Indivior Plc. Zlatkus joined The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. in 1983 and steadily rose through the organization while holding a variety of leadership positions, including executive vice president and chief financial officer, and executive vice president and chief risk officer.

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Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. appointed Samuel Liss and Tony Latham as independent directors to its board of directors.

Liss is managing principal of Whitegate Partners LLC, an advisory firm to operating companies and private equity firms specializing in the financial services and business services sectors. He is a board member of Verisk Analytics Inc. and J.S. Held.

From an operational perspective, Liss served as executive vice president at Travelers Insurance, where he was responsible for corporate development, as well as group business head of one of Travelers’ three operating divisions: Financial, Professional and International Insurance. Before Travelers, Liss was a managing director in the investment banking and equity divisions at Credit Suisse First Boston. He began his career at Salomon Brothers. Liss was previously a board member of DST Systems Inc., Ironshore Insurance Inc. and Nuveen Investment Inc.

Latham, a 40-year industry veteran, has served as an independent director of the board of Argo Managing Agency since 2016. In addition, he has held several board positions across the industry, including director of Pool Re for over two decades and chairman for more than 12 years. He has also held director roles at Codan A/S, Ecclesiastical Insurance, Airclaims, Flagstone Re and British Aviation Insurance.

Latham began his career with Sedgwick (now part of Marsh Inc.) before joining RSA Group where, over a period of 17 years, he served as a member of the group executive and held a number of senior executive roles, including managing director of the global risks division.

Argo Group Chairman Gary Woods said the board has added five new independent directors on the past two years.

Sources: AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd., Argo Group