XL Insurance Announces North America Programs Expansion with Three Executive Appointments

NEW YORK, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL), today announced expansion of its North America Programs team with the appointment of three executives including Quinnon (Pete) K. Purvis.  Mr. Purvis joins as President for North America Programs, succeeding John Hartman who recently announced his retirement from XL Insurance.  Mark R. Mahanna and Christopher A. Bressette also join XL's North America Programs team as SVP, North America Programs, reporting to Mr. Purvis. All three will be based in Boston.  

Mr. Purvis reports to Seraina Maag, Chief Executive of XL Insurance's North America Property & Casualty (P&C) unit in New York.  According to Ms. Maag, "We're pleased that Pete, Mark and Chris have decided to join XL especially as John announces his retirement and we look to continue the growth momentum that he started here.  With more than 70 years of collective experience, they bring additional energy to a team with a strong track record in not only managing and growing profitable program business, but in cultivating the kind of longstanding relationships with brokers and program administrators that drive successful programs."

Ms. Maag continued:  "Under Pete's leadership, we look forward to growing our book of programs by teaming up with qualified program administrators who are experts in the industries they serve and extending our quality coverage to benefit more industries."

Mr. Purvis joins XL Insurance from Lexington Insurance Company where he served as Senior Vice President and Senior Product Line Manager for Multiline Programs and managed programs business comprised of programs offering property, casualty, auto, and excess/Umbrella to targeted industry segments.  Mr. Purvis' three decades of industry experience also includes management, underwriting and marketing positions with Crum and Foster, Commercial Union Insurance Companies, Assurex Marketing Group, The St. Paul's Companies and Federated Mutual Insurance Companies.  A graduate of Milligan College, he holds a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation and a graduate degree in Business Management from Harvard University.

Mr. Mahanna and Mr. Bressette also join XL from Lexington Insurance Company.  Mr. Mahanna served as a Vice President and managed a significant book of program business there, including Human & Social Services business as well the company's Canadian Program business.  His career also includes tenure with Hanover Insurance Company, St. Paul Insurance Company, and Liberty Mutual.  He earned his BA in Business Administration from Stonehill College and his MBA from Boston's Suffolk University.  Mr. Mahanna also holds a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Mr. Bressette served as a Vice President and managed departments with more than 20 Programs offering industry-specific property, casualty, inland marine, ocean marine and auto coverages.  His professional experience includes underwriting and marketing positions with Aetna Casualty Providence Washington Insurance Company and the Arbella Insurance Group. He is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, CT and earned his MBA, with a concentration in Risk Management and Insurance, from the University of Texas at Austin.  

About XL Insurance

XL Insurance's North America Programs group specializes in customized program solutions for market-leading Program Administrators with demonstrated underwriting and marketing excellence. The group works with Program Administrators possessing unique industry skills, specialized underwriting talent and a proven record of success with managing books of program business.   "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 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