NEW YORK, NY, July 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) today announced the hiring of Vincent C. Tizzio as President and Chief Executive Officer of Navigators Management Company, Inc., its principal U.S. underwriting agency subsidiary. Mr. Tizzio will join the Company on July 16 and will be responsible for its U.S. insurance underwriting operations, reporting to Stanley A. Galanski, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Navigators Group, Inc.

Mr. Tizzio most recently served as Executive Vice President of Zurich North America. He was responsible for the Commercial Markets organization, its business operations in Canada, and the customer and industry group practices. Previous to that role, he held various underwriting management positions with American International Group.

Mr. Galanski commented, "We are delighted to have Vince join our executive team. His track record of accomplishment in building profitable businesses and personal leadership qualities are well established. We are confident he will enhance our culture of underwriting excellence, specialization and financial performance."

"I look forward to contributing to the growth of shareholder value by expanding our profitable specialty insurance business," commented Mr. Tizzio. "Navigators' brand reflects underwriting integrity, professionalism and expertise. We look forward to further developing the brand through additional products and extraordinary services."

The Navigators Group, Inc. is an international specialty insurance holding company with insurance company operations, underwriting management companies, and operations at Lloyd's of London. Headquartered in New York, Navigators has offices in major insurance centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever used in this release, the words "estimate," "expect," "believe," "may," "will," "intend," "continue" or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We cannot assure that results that we anticipate will be achieved, since results may differ materially because of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that we face. Please refer to Navigators' most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a description of Navigators' business and the important factors that may affect that business. Navigators undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

CONTACT: Taha Ebrahimi
         914-933-6209
         tebrahimi@navg.comwww.navg.com

Source: The Navigators Group, Inc.