Christopher Longo will be leaving Bermuda next month full of wonderful memories as his career in the insurance industry went from strength to strength.

But the President of Chubb Atlantic Indemnity Ltd will also carry with him something more tangible and precious than recollections of the people and places he encountered on the Island -- his new children.

In September Mr. Longo, 43, and his wife Sandy, finally achieved their dream of adopting children.

After two-and-a-half years of trying, they finally took delivery of daughter Ally and son Noah, both 16 months old, from Guatemala.

As he prepares to take up a new post as the president of a new division of the St. Paul Insurance Company in New York, he told The Royal Gazette about his joy outside of the office.

"We hadn't had any children yet and we both were interested in adopting and we thought it would be a great experience for the children and us,'' he said.

"Two and half years ago my wife and I started the process of adopting and we heard of this programme in Guatemala where they place kids in foster homes, which we liked.

"In September we finally got our children. They are great kids and I can't say enough about them.'' Mr. Longo moved to the Island four years after working for Chubb in New York.

At St. Paul, he will be president of a new specialist excess umbrella division writing excess casualty business for companies worldwide.

St. Paul, a multi-million dollar property casualty insurance company headquartered in Minnesota, specialises in a number of businesses, including medical malpractice -- a major industry in the United States -- and technology.

"It is just a great opportunity for both my career and my family,'' he said.

"The people, the job, the environment in Bermuda have been fantastic, its been great. It's a great insurance centre and international business centre.

"It's been some of the most fun years of my career and I can't say enough good things. I have established great friendships with people that will go on when I leave the Island.'' Christopher Longo