John Pollock to Retire at Year End
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ — QBE the Americas announced earlier today that President and CEO John Pollock will retire at year-end after 29 years of service to the company. John will continue as chairman of the General Casualty and Unigard board of directors. Peter Christen, the current President and CEO of the company’s Unigard subsidiaries, has been named as Pollock’s successor. Christen has served in several leadership positions within the group over the past 27 years. Pete McPartland, the current President and CEO of the General Casualty companies with 13 years of service, will also assume the newly created role of COO of QBE Regional Insurance, reporting directly to Mr. Christen.
QBE Regional Companies (N.A.), Inc., formerly Winterthur U.S. Holdings, Inc. was acquired by the QBE Insurance Group from the AXA Group earlier this year, becoming part of its Americas Division. The General Casualty and Unigard companies, along with the National Farmers Union Insurance companies and QBE AGRI Insurance, form the QBE Regional Insurance pillar of QBE the Americas.
Pollock stated, “My primary focus for some time has been to secure a new owner for our organization that valued our people, our agents, and our business. The completion of our acquisition by QBE has delivered the right owner, allowing me to consider this move with the confidence that we also have the right team in place to lead the company into this new era.”
Christen stated, “I have worked alongside John for a long time and have a deep appreciation of his dedication to our companies. I am looking forward to working with him as I transition into his position and in continuing his dedication and leadership.” McPartland added, “John’s vision over the years has allowed us to become a market leader. I will enjoy the opportunity of working with Peter in leading our regional companies into this new chapter of their histories.”
Tim Kenny, President and CEO of QBE the Americas, stated, “We are grateful that John will continue to be a resource as we transition QBE Regional into the QBE Group in the coming months. Together with Peter, Pete and their management team, we are committed to achieving a seamless transition for our agents and policyholders, and have been delighted by their response to the acquisition.”
QBE Regional Insurance, based in Sun Prairie, Wis., specializes in property and casualty insurance through two subsidiaries: General Casualty (Sun Prairie) and Unigard (Bellevue, Wash.). The company’s operations recorded direct written premiums last year of $1.5 billion and employ more than 2,100 people across the U.S. QBE Regional Insurance is a member of the QBE Insurance Group, based in Australia and one of the top 25 insurers worldwide, with assets of $26.5 billion. QBE Regional Insurance is part of QBE’s Americas division, the 18th largest U.S. insurer. With additional operations in Latin America, QBE the Americas estimates gross written premiums of $4.6 billion for 2007 and a combined surplus of approximately $2.0 billion. A.M. Best rates the group “A” (Excellent).
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Source: QBE the Americas