NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) announced today that its principal underwriting agency subsidiary, Navigators Management Company, Inc. (NMC), has expanded its commercial surety unit to be led by industry veteran Helen A. Lally. Ms. Lally's team will be based in Seattle, Washington, focusing on transactional, account and program business throughout the country.

"We are pleased to welcome Helen," said Michael L. Civisca, Chief Operating Officer of NMC. "She is an established leader in the field of commercial surety. We believe her track record of solid underwriting results and deep relationships in the marketplace will be an invaluable asset as we continue to build this specialty niche."

Prior to joining Navigators, Ms. Lally was head of commercial surety at Great American Insurance Company. She is a graduate of the University of Washington (B.A., Business Administration).

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: Business Inquiries:
         Helen Lally
         (206) 443-8564
         hlally@navg.com

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

Source: The Navigators Group, Inc.