Mr. Blake is also chairman and CEO of CNA International Re, which is joining with other reinsurance companies under the CNA Financial Corporation umbrella to form one management unit.

Those companies include CNA (Bermuda) Services Ltd. Together, they generate almost a billion dollars in premiums, and on a combined basis they would rank among the top 20 reinsurers worldwide.

Founded just last November, LaSalle is a large-line capacity company writing a multi-line book, including catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess and pro-rata property and special casualty.

The company's year end capital was $372 million, with business split between U.S. (55 percent) and international. The three main sponsors at its founding were CNA Insurance Companies, Chicago; Aon Corporation,Chicago; and Corporate Partners, New York.

Chairman and CEO of CNA, Dennis H. Chookaszian commented: "The company has built a solid reputation as a multi-line, international organisation. It has succeeded by building on financial strength, proven underwriting expertise, large line capacity and seamless client service.''