Goshawk Re Bermuda has appointed Jonathan Beck as its chief financial officer.

Mr. Beck, 34, joined Goshawk Re from ACE Capital Re International where he was vice-president and CFO. He began his career as a chartered accountant in Scotland and moved to Bermuda in 1993 in a post at Ernst & Young.

Goshawk Re CEO Chris Fagan said: “We are delighted Jon has chosen to join Goshawk Re. With his extensive experience in the Bermudian insurance industry we are confident he will bring significant strength to the management team.” Goshawk Re, a class 4 Bermuda insurance company, was formed following a void in insurance capacity after last year's September terrorist attacks. The company was set up by UK company Goshawk Insurance Holdings - the Lloyd's of London syndicate operator and insurance and insurance underwriter.

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XL Capital has announced the early retirement of William Kronenberg III, CEO of XL Environmental and XL Programs.

The company cited “pursuit of personal reasons” as the reason for Mr. Kronenberg's decision. Mr. Kronenberg joined XL in 1999 in connection with the acquisition by the company of ECS Inc., a leading provider of environmental risk management services.

Nicholas Brown, CEO of XL Insurance Operations said: “Bill built XL Environmental from the ground up and over the last 17 years he created a highly regarded niche operation in this complex specialty business.

“While we were disappointed to learn of his decision to retire from the company, we are fortunate that he developed a strong management team that is well positioned to continue to grow the business.” Mr. Kronenberg will be succeeded by Rich Banas, previously executive vice-president and chief underwriting officer of XL's insurance operations. Mr. Banas joined XL Insurance management team in 2001 after serving as managing director of OneBeacon.

Reporting to Mr. Banas in his new role will be Rich Corbett, president of XL Environmental, Jeff Lejfer, president of XL Programs and Daryl LaForge, president of XL Surety.

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Mrs. Carla R. Greaves has been elected to the position of Vice President, Excess General Casualty for Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd. (AWAC).

Mrs. Greaves was previously Vice President and Global Casualty Manager for Zurich Global Energy, the energy insurance arm of Zurich Financial Services Group. During her 14 years in the industry, she has also held positions at American International Company Limited and XL Capital Ltd. In her new position with AWAC, Mrs. Greaves is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Excess Casualty underwriting team. Her role includes strategic planning, budgeting and ensuring proper underwriting discipline through the implementation of underwriting guidelines, processes and procedures and to ensure AWAC's existing and prospective clients receive the highest levels of service.

The Excess Casualty team consists of seven members of staff, six of whom are Bermudian. Ms Greaves said: “We have been successful in attracting an extremely talented underwriting team from major insurance and broking houses in Bermuda.”

Mrs. Greaves, also Bermudian, is a graduate of The College of Insurance, New York and holds the Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) professional designation. She continued: “The timing could not have been better for AWAC's entrance into the market. The full realisation of 9/11 is yet to be felt and there is still a huge deficit in reinsurance/retrocession capacity, which will make it difficult for many direct insurers going forward.

“AWAC has tremendous financial strength and a dynamic Board of Directors and Executive Management team. To date, the Company has been extremely well received and we are well on our way to accomplishing our goal of becoming the premier global insurance and reinsurance provider. I am excited and honoured to be a part of this new venture,” added Mrs. Greaves.

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AWAC has also appointed Sal Cantarella as assistant vice president, general casualty.

Mr. Cantarella has 18 years experience in the insurance industry. Prior to joining AWAC, he was a senior vice president with AON Bermuda, primarily focusing in the energy, chemical and natural resource areas where he was involved with large multinational placements. He also has experience in the alternative risk transfer sector.

In his new role at AWAC, Mr. Cantarella will continue to concentrate in the energy and construction sectors as well as transportation risk.

“My prior broker experience of 11 years provided me with an excellent platform from which to develop my career as I dealt with a broad cross section of Fortune 500 accounts. I am delighted to join AWAC's dynamic team and be part of this successful operation.”

Mr. Cantarella is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences and has lived with his Bermudian wife and children on the Island for the last 18 years. He holds the CPCU Charter and has passed level 1 of the CFA Exam Series.

•The deadline for submissions to Company Moves, which runs in Friday's Business section, is noon on Thursday. Photographs to accompany articles are encouraged. Please contact business reporters Magnus Henagulph (278 0148) or Lilla Zuill (278 0147) or by E-mail: businessgazette.newsmedia.bm.