Former White Mountains Insurance Group and GEICO boss John (Jack) Byrne has been elected chairman of the board at Integro at a directors meeting held on Thursday.

Having joined the board on 2005, he succeeds the company's co-founder and chairman, the late Bob Clements.

John Clements, also a member of the Integro board since the firm's launch, has been elected vice-chairman.

Mr. Byrne, who has also led Fireman's Fund and has an actuarial background, joined Travelers Insurance Company before quickly moving up the ranks, but it was at GEICO where he really built his reputation, which joined as CEO in 1976 and was credited with turning the company around.

Under his leadership, GEICO staved off insolvency to become the most profitable property and casualty company of the era, and was subsequently sold to Warren Buffett.

Mr. Byrne and Mr. Buffett made history again with Fireman's Fund, which was the largest IPO of its time. Mr. Byrne continued to lead White Mountains Insurance Group, after the sale of its Fireman's Fund division to Allianz of Germany in 1990.

"I have served on Integro's board from its inception and am well acquainted with the firm's capabilities and dedication to customer service," said Mr. Byrne.

"It is an honour to chair this company, carry on the vision of the legendary Bob Clements and work with CEO Peter Garvey and his superb management team."

Mr. Byrne, a graduate of Rutgers University, was selected 2001's 'Insurance Industry Leader of the Year' by the St. John's University School of Risk Management.

He has previously served on the boards of American ExHe has previously served on the boards of American Express, Martin Marietta, Lehman Brothers, MidOcean, Financial Security Assurance, Zurich Re, and the International Special Olympics.

"Jack Byrne brings an incredible store of experience and broad perspective to us in his new role at Integro," said Mr. Garvey. "For us, no one could replace Bob. Yet who could imagine we would be so fortunate as to have Jack succeed him? He and John will be wonderful and effective partners as we realize Bob's vision for the firm, creating a viable alternative to the big-box brokers in providing complex risk solutions."

John Clements is the managing partner of Tara Partners Ltd., a private investment partnership that was a co-founder of Integro Ltd. and co-founder of Ironshore Inc. From 1995 until 2005, he was a principal of MMC Capital Inc. (now Stone Point Capital LLC), a global private equity firm.

Mr. Clements has served as a director and represented the founding investors in various 'start-up' insurance companies, including Advisen Ltd., Altus Ltd. (now part of Arch), American Strategic Insurance, Global Specialty Risk, Inc. (now part of American Insurance Group), Ironshore and James River Group Inc. He was also involved in the creation of Axis Capital Holdings.