Executive Appointments Announced at Argo Group

Business Wire,  Oct 31, 2007  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

HAMILTON, Bermuda -- Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGS:AGII), an international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in niche areas of the property and casualty market, today announced a number of executive appointments in its US and international operations.

In Argo Group's U.S. operations, the following employees have been promoted:

* Dale Pilkington to President of Argo Group's US operations, effective immediately. Mr. Pilkington, an insurance industry veteran with almost 30 years' experience, was President of Argo Group's Excess & Surplus (E&S) Lines business segment and for five years has been President of Colony Insurance, a unit of Argo Group's E&S segment. Reporting to Argo Group President and Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Watson III, Mr. Pilkington will be responsible for all aspects of the organization's US retail and wholesale operations and will oversee the search for a new president of the E&S segment.

* Bill Meisen to President of Grocers Insurance and Great Central, two operating units of Argo Group whose administrative functions have been integrated for improved customer service. Mr. Meisen will work with the management of Grocers and Great Central to identify additional product development opportunities that will meet the needs of the niche retail markets that Argo Group serves.

The following positions have been established in Argo Group's International Specialty segment:

* Matthew Wilken will join Argo Group in March 2008, as Chief Underwriter of Peleus Re, Argo Group's Bermuda-based reinsurance subsidiary.

* Michael Cornish has been appointed to the position of Underwriter/Marketing Officer at Peleus Re.

Mr. Wilken and Mr. Cornish will report directly to Andrew Carrier, who was announced as President of Peleus Re in August of this year and together will work to develop Peleus' book of business, which includes specialty property catastrophe reinsurance, property per risk reinsurance and casualty reinsurance products and services.

"These appointments in our US and international operations represent the ongoing alignment of our management team at Argo Group with our development as an international specialty underwriter," said Mr. Watson.

"With the shift in our base of operations to Bermuda, having someone of Dale Pilkington's caliber to guide and direct the growth of our U.S. business is a natural choice. Dale enjoys well-deserved respect and admiration throughout Argo Group as well as the insurance industry, and his new role is tailor-made to leverage his considerable leadership and technical skills. In the coming weeks, Dale will continue to develop his management team in the U.S. and I look forward to receiving his recommendations in this regard.

"I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Greg Vezzosi, who is leaving his position as Chief Operating Officer at our US operations to pursue other interests. Greg, who will assist in transitioning job duties through the end of the year, has overseen an in-depth examination of our work processes and as a result, Argo Group has realized not only increased cost efficiency throughout our organization but also improved customer service delivery.

"I am pleased to welcome Bill Meisen to the senior management team of Argo Group. As with Dale's promotion to president, Bill's new responsibilities reflect the confidence I have in his ability to deliver on Argo Group's promise of superior service and innovative products to the clients of our E&S and retail segments.

"As far as our International Specialty segment is concerned, the core team at Peleus Re is now in place with the appointment of Matthew Wilken and Mike Cornish. Under Andrew Carrier's leadership, we will be well-positioned for January 1 renewals as well as the development of new business.

"The executive team which emerges from these promotions and appointments strengthens Argo Group's position in the marketplace as a leading international specialty underwriter. Together, we are committed to achieving sustained profitability through the partnerships we have established with our shareholders, customers and employees."

BIOGRAPHIES

Dale Pilkington

Dale Pilkington joined Argonaut Group in October 2002 as President and CEO of Colony Insurance. In November 2006, he was promoted to president of Argonaut's Excess and Surplus (E&S) Lines segment while continuing to retain his position as head of Colony. Prior to their acquisition by Argonaut, Mr. Pilkington was Chief Underwriting officer of Front Royal Group from 1994 to 2002 and Vice President - Underwriting at Waite Hill from 1993 to 1994.

Mr. Pilkington began his career in insurance in 1978 when he joined General Reinsurance Corp as facultative casualty underwriter. In 1983, he left General Re to work at E. H. Crump - Crump London Underwriting Management, where as Underwriting Officer he focused on excess liability and product development. In 1984, he established Pilkington Brothers, a retail insurance operation specializing in medical and non-medical professional liability and general property and casualty business. 11 years later, he accepted an offer to join Waite Hill.