Zurich Global Energy has announced the appointment of Derek Ratteray to the position of vice president and Bermuda Casualty Branch manager.

Mr. Ratteray will be responsible for all branch operations including day-to-day casualty underwriting activities. He reports to Carla R. Greaves, the recently appointed vice president and Global Casualty manager.

Mr. Ratteray joined Zurich Global Energy in September, 2001 having been in the insurance industry since 1982, when he first joined Continental Reinsurance Corporation as a trainee underwriter. Since that time he has had a variety of underwriting roles at both excess insurance and reinsurance companies. Most recently, he spent five years at XL Capital in Bermuda, where he was vice president responsible for the casualty team writing Energy, Chemicals, Health Care and Consumer Products business for XL Insurance Ltd.

Mr. Ratteray holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University in Canada.

Pete Connors, President and CEO of Zurich Global Energy, said:"We welcome Derek to our Bermuda office. His vast underwriting experience will prove invaluable as we continue to refine our total risk products and services for the Bermuda market.

"We are pleased to have someone with Derek's experience and talent overseeing the management of the office.''

Zurich Global Energy specialises in providing comprehensive risk solutions, risk engineering services and claims support tailored to the individual needs of oil and gas, petrochemical, natural resources, mining and power generation customers worldwide. It has offices in Atlanta, Bermuda, Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Melbourne, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Zurich and the Asia-Pacific region.