XL Insurance Enters Collaborative Agreement with PSMJ Resources, Inc. to Advance A/E's Risk and Practice Management

EXTON, Pennsylvania and NEWTON, Massachusetts, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- XL Insurance's Design Professional group, specializing in professional liability insurance for architects and engineers and a part of the global underwriting operations of XL Group (NYSE: XL), and PSMJ, Resources, Inc., the world's leading educator, publisher, and consultant on the effective management of architecture, engineering, and construction firms, today announced a new collaborative agreement to share knowledge, develop custom research tools, analyze trends in new ways, and develop reports and educational materials to advance Architecture and Engineering (A/E) firms' risk and practice management efforts.

According to Alex Blanco, Chief Underwriting Officer of XL Insurance's Design Professional group, "Both XL and PSMJ have spent decades honing their expertise and insights on A/E firms' risk management and business practice issues. This agreement is an unprecedented exchange, which comes at a time of unprecedented change, to further our clients' efforts to not only protect their firms, but help them thrive. The synergy of XL Insurance's Design Professional group and PSMJ will drive relevant and timely thought leadership in our service to customers and the design community."

"Together XL and PSMJ have considerable A/E expertise and our individual areas of expertise—risk management and business practices—are closely tied," added David Burstein, P.E., of PSMJ.  "As the saying goes, two heads are better than one and in this case, the collaboration of our two firms will provide more, and enhanced, guidance and materials to help our individual and mutual clients advance their business practices."

Customers of XL Insurance's Design Professional group may take advantage of an immediate benefit: PSMJ is offering a special discount on new subscriptions to PSMJ's newsletters (Professional Services Management Journal, A/E Marketing Journal, and Project Management). XL Insurance will begin authoring articles for these newsletters, starting with the October issues. This special offer features a new 18-month subscription for the standard price of a 12-month subscription, available exclusively to XL Insurance customers only through September 2, 2011.  Please contact [email protected] to request your new subscription.

About PSMJ Resources, Inc.

Headquartered in Newton, MA, USA, PSMJ is a global knowledge provider that conducts more than 200 A/E/C educational seminars and conferences annually, supported by major professional societies, such as The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). PSMJ also offers more than 150 titles in book, audio, and video and publishes three newsletters on A/E/C firm management. More information is available at www.psmj.com.

About XL Insurance

XL Insurance's Design Professional group offers innovative professional liability insurance programs for architects and engineers. The group has more than 40 years of experience serving the A/E industry and helping clients mitigate risk with broad coverage, proactive loss prevention education and techniques and expert dispute resolution and claims services.  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. Its principal offices are located at No. 1 Hatch Street Upper, 4th Floor, Dublin 2, Ireland. More information about XL Group plc is available at www.xlgroup.com

SOURCE XL Insurance