Callahan Named Executive Vice President and Chief Actuary of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.

HOUSTON, Sept. 14, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:HCC) announced today that Mark W. Callahan has been appointed Executive Vice President and HCC's Chief Actuarial Officer effective August 9, 2010.

Mr. Callahan was previously the Chief Risk, Underwriting, and Actuarial Services Officer for XL Insurance. During 12 years there he also held the positions of Senior Vice President and Underwriter for XL Financial Solutions and Executive Vice President and Chief Actuarial Officer for XL Insurance. Prior to this, Mr. Callahan worked for Milliman, managing offices in Dallas and Bermuda. Mr. Callahan is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.

"We are extremely pleased to strengthen HCC's Executive Management by Mark's addition.  His considerable talents will broaden our insurance capabilities as well as add to our Enterprise Risk Management focus," said HCC President and Chief Executive Officer John N. Molbeck, Jr.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a leading international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland. As of June 30, 2010, HCC had assets of $9.0 billion and shareholders' equity of $3.2 billion. HCC's major domestic and international insurance companies have a financial strength rating of "AA (Very Strong)" from Standard & Poor's Corporation. HCC's major domestic insurance companies have a financial strength rating of "AA (Very Strong)" from Fitch Ratings, "A1 (Good Security)" from Moody's Investors Service, Inc., and "A+ (Superior)" by A.M. Best Company, Inc.

For more information about HCC, please visit http://www.hcc.com.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The types of risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company are set forth in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:  HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.           Jonathan Lee, HCC Director of Investor Relations           (713) 996-1156