Zurich Global Corporate in North America Names Robert Curtis to Head New Strategic Risk Solutions Group Serving the M&A, Private Equity and Integrated Multi-Year/Multi-Line Risk Transfer Markets

Business Wire, June 23, 2009

NEW YORK -- Zurich Global Corporate in North America (GCiNA) today announced the formation of a new Strategic Risk Solutions Group that will enable the insurer to more efficiently serve the needs of customers undergoing mergers, acquisition or divestiture, and those with non-traditional risk management needs requiring integrated multi-year/multi-line program structures.

Robert Curtis has been named head of the newly combined group in North America, with operations based in New York City. The Strategic Risk Solutions Group combines Zurich’s New York-based Mergers & Acquisitions Group with its existing Structured Solutions Group (SSG) and Structured Programs Group (SPG). The M&A Group serves the unique insurance needs of companies in the private equity market or companies going through M&A activity while the latter two units design highly tailored risk management programs with non-traditional risks and financial components.

“The M&A and private equity market has undergone significant change due to the global financial situation,” said Michael Kerner, CEO, GCiNA. “Zurich remains committed to this business and is sustaining its commitment through this combined approach that further sets us apart in this specialized marketing space.”

The new unit will coordinate resources for M&A, private equity and customers with integrated multi-year/multi-line program needs through driving a holistic, one-account view bringing all of Zurich's capabilities to bear.

“Robert’s initial objectives will be to focus on expanding our offerings to these specialized markets in North America,” said Paul Horgan, GCiNA’s chief underwriting officer. “He has been with Zurich for the past five years, where he has been heading the SPG group, and was a member of the Global Corporate Underwriting Executive team. We’re pleased that he agreed to take on these additional responsibilities.”

During Curtis’ tenure at Zurich, he worked in the SSG group as head of Alternative Risk Underwriting. Prior to joining Zurich, he held positions with AIG Risk Finance, where he worked closely with its M&A units.

Curtis graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a bachelors of arts in Economics, and from the Thunderbird School of Global Management with a master's in business administration, emphasizing International Finance.

About Zurich

Zurich's North America Commercial and Global Corporate in North America business divisions are part of Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich), an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Founded in 1872, the Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It employs approximately 60,000 people serving customers in more than 170 countries. In North America, Zurich (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors.