St. John?s University President Rev. Donald Harrington will today confer honorary degrees upon Ace chairman Brian Duperreault, XL Capital CEO Brian O? Hara and AIG retired vice president Joseph Smetana.

Governor Sir John Vereker will host the conferral of degrees at the Governor?s House.

All three leading industry executives will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Commercial Science from Rev. Harrington.

Mr. Smetana serves on the St. John?s University Board of Governors and on the Executive Advisory Council of the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science (SRM) while Mr. O?Hara and Mr. Duperreault are members of the St. John?s University Board of Overseers of SRM.He said the conferral of degrees in Bermuda will be a landmark event for St. John?s University.

?We are also indebted to the Governor of Bermuda for his hospitality in hosting this historic event,? added Rev. Harrington.