Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. has announced a number of executive appointments in its US operations.

The Bermuda-based international underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in niche areas of the property and casualty market, which was formed earlier this year after merging with troubled PXRE and is located in Pitts Bay Road, has promoted current senior vice-president of business development for the Excess & Surplus (E&S) lines segment, Mike Warfield to president of Colony Insurance.

Colony operates in the E&S market partnering with wholesalers on both a binding and brokerage basis and Mr. Warfield succeeds Dale Pilkington, who was appointed to the position of president of Argo Group's US operations last month.

Thomas Johns, current select markets president, has announced his intention to retire in 2008. Until that time, he will assume a new role, reporting to Mr. Pilkington and focusing in particular on emerging opportunities in Argo Group's US operations.

Michael Arledge has been promoted to president of Argo Group's Select Markets segment, effective of January 1, 2008. Mr. Arledge, who is currently president of Trident, Argo's public entity operations, succeeds Mr. Johns. Reporting to Dale Pilkington, Mr. Arledge will oversee the segment's continued focus on core business activities, simplifying and standardising processes with a view to offering clients a wider array of specialty products and more aggressively selling products to producers.

"I am pleased to welcome Mike Warfield to the senior management team of Argo Group in the United States," said Mr. Pilkington. "Mike's new responsibilities reflect the confidence I have in his ability to continue to develop Colony's book of business in an increasingly challenging market. His focus on Colony business complements the opportunities we have identified in our professional operations and at Argonaut Specialty.

"In addition, as new president of Select Markets, Mike Arledge brings 24 years of knowledge and experience to his new position, and to our commitment to specialty products. As competition in this sector increases, and as the retail market continues to be a challenging one, Mike's astute business acumen and industry experience will be invaluable in ensuring that this segment of our operations not only remains profitable but sustains profitable organic growth."

President and CEO of Argo Group, Mark E. Watson III, said: "I want to thank Tom Johns for all he has done to develop select markets during the last several years and for his commitment to Argo's growth. Tom has made a lasting contribution to this organization and I look forward to having the benefit of his wisdom and counsel in his new role.

"The executive team emerging from these promotions continues to strengthen the ability of our US operations to anticipate and respond to the needs of the wholesale and retail insurance markets."