XL Insurance Continues to Expand Construction Team in North America

NEW YORK, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL), announced nine new appointments to its North America Construction team expanding its underwriting capabilities and risk engineering services dedicated to providing risk management solutions for contractors.

"We have built an experienced team that is not only ready to address contractors' multi-line insurance needs but remains agile enough to move quickly to provide them with the innovative products and services as their risk management needs change day-by-day or project-by-project," said Gary Kaplan, President of Construction at XL Insurance.  "Over the last six months, we have grown to include 24 construction and surety underwriters, risk engineers and claims professionals, who average over 15 years of risk management knowledge, underwriting expertise and hands on experience working with contractors."

The latest additions to XL Insurance's Construction team include:

• David Grigg to Vice President, Construction Professional Liability located in New York. Prior to joining XL, Mr. Grigg was Executive Vice President and National Director of Willis' Construction Practice.  He brings more than 30 years of professional liability underwriting experience having worked with HUB International, DPIC (now XL Insurance's Design Professional unit), the Sear-Brown Group, Louis Berger International, H.W. Associates and Cadmus Properties.
• Jason LaMonica to Vice President, Subcontractor Default Insurance in New York. Mr. LaMonica brings more than 18 years of property and casualty underwriting experience. Prior to joining XL, Mr. LaMonica served as Zurich North America's Regional Vice President, responsible for Commercial Markets accounts in the Northeast Region.  Prior to his most recent position, he was Regional Vice President of Construction in Zurich's Northeast region.  Mr. LaMonica is a graduate of St. John's University, School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science in New York.
• Donald D. Wehrkamp to Executive Underwriter, Construction Primary Casualty.  Mr. Wehrkamp joins XL Insurance from CNA Insurance Company where he was a Vice President and Commercial Underwriting Officer.  He brings more than 30 years of industry experience to XL with tenure from Zurich, Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, Reliance Insurance, Maryland Insurance Group, U.S.F. & G and Iowa National Insurance Company.
• Michael R. Simone to Executive Underwriter, Primary Casualty in New York.  Mr. Simone joins XL Insurance from Old Republic Construction Program Group where he served as Product Manager on all loss sensitive accounts. He adds another 16 years of underwriting experience to XL's Construction team with positions at Reliance National and Crum & Forster Insurance Company.
• Lee-Ann Pinho to Senior Underwriter, Construction Excess in New York.  Ms. Pinho joins XL from Ironshore. Prior to her most recent position, she was responsible for underwriting commercial, middle market and national accounts for Zurich's Excess Casualty unit.   Earlier in her career, she held senior underwriting, account management and customer service positions with both Travelers and AIG.
• Kevin McCormick to Construction Excess Casualty Underwriter in XL's Chicago office.  Mr. McCormick joins XL Insurance from Zurich where he was responsible for excess casualty underwriting for Midwest accounts.  His 17–year underwriting career also includes positions with AIG, CNA, and Walton Risk Services.
• Amanda Abbinanteto Construction Excess Casualty Underwriter in XL's Chicago office.  Ms. Abbinante joins XL Insurance from Zurich where she was an excess casualty underwriter responsible for middle market to Fortune 500 construction accounts in the Midwest.  She is a graduate of Illinois State University's Katie School of Insurance.  
• Shannon Lawlessto Construction Risk Engineer in Chicago.  Mr. Lawless joins XL Insurance's Construction team from Zurich Services Corporation where he was a senior risk engineering consultant supporting underwriting and claims activities by providing loss prevention services to Construction clients. He was previously a loss control consultant with Safety Check, Inc. and directed safety programs for various companies including Grinsteining Engineering and F.L. Crane and Sons.  He is a graduate of Illinois State University, earning his BS degree in Occupational Safety.
• Brian J. Poliaficoto Construction Risk Engineer for the East Coast.  He joins XL from Zurich North American Insurance Company where he collaborated with construction clients to reduce exposures through loss prevention and helped develop and implement construction safety programs.  Prior to his entry into the insurance industry, Mr. Poliafico held health and safety positions with PSE&G Nuclear, Epsilon Products Company, C&D Technologies and Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

The XL Insurance companies provide surety, property, including Builder's Risk, excess and primary casualty, professional and specialty insurance coverages, such as environmental coverage, to the construction industry.  Coverages are accompanied by loss control and claims management services delivered by teams dedicated to construction risk management.

About XL Insurance

XL Insurance is the global brand used by XL Group plc's insurance companies and underwriting divisions offering property, casualty, professional and specialty insurance products throughout the world. More information about XL Insurance is available at www.xlinsurance.com.   XL was formed in 1986 in response to the unmet risk management needs of 68 of the world's largest companies. This year, as XL celebrates its 25th anniversary, it remains the company clients look to for innovative insurance and reinsurance solutions for their most complex risks.  XL Group plc, through its subsidiaries, is a global insurance and reinsurance company providing property, casualty, and specialty products to industrial, commercial, and professional firms, insurance companies and other enterprises on a worldwide basis. More information about XL Group plc is available at www.xlgroup.com

SOURCE XL Insurance