Navigators Specialty Launches Professional Liability Unit; Lopez to Lead

NEW YORK, NY, April 29, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) today announced that its principal underwriting agency subsidiary, Navigators Management Company, Inc. (NMC), has named Henry A. Lopez as President of the Professional Liability unit of Navigators Specialty. Mr. Lopez will be responsible for the portfolio of professional liability products, reporting to Jeff L. Saunders, President of Navigators Specialty. He will be based in the Company's Chicago office.

The Professional Liability unit will continue to underwrite Navigators' existing E&O products, while expanding into opportunistic niche areas and broadening product opportunities for its wholesale partners.

Mr. Lopez most recently served as Zonal Vice President for the U.S. western & central zones of Navigators Management Company, Inc. Prior to joining Navigators in March 2011, he held various leadership positions with the Markel Corporation. Mr. Lopez is also an active committee member of both the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, Ltd. (NAPSLO) and Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS).

Mr. Saunders commented, "We are excited to launch the Professional Liability unit within Navigators Specialty and pleased to promote Henry into this important leadership position. His knowledge and experience in the professional lines are comprehensive, and his strong relationships within the wholesale insurance community will bring a strong presence to our existing business. We are confident that Henry will continue to strengthen our culture of underwriting excellence and specialization within the professional liability arena."

Vincent C. Tizzio, President and CEO of Navigators Management Company, Inc., commented, "We are pleased to announce the expansion of Navigators Specialty into professional liability and the fact that Henry Lopez is leading this exciting new unit. We are proud of the depth and strength of our underwriting team and believe in the capability of our people to take on new endeavors. Henry's background in professional liability and his many contributions since joining Navigators will serve him well in this important new endeavor."  

The Navigators Group, Inc. is an international specialty insurance holding company with insurance company operations, underwriting management companies, and operations at Lloyd's. 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          [email protected]www.navg.com

Source: The Navigators Group, Inc.