a new chief investment officer, Ms Anne Marie Gagnon.

The company said Ms Gagnon will be responsible for overseeing PartnerRe's composite investment portfolio and managing relationships with external investment managers.

She was previously vice president and senior investment manager at XL Insurance Company Ltd. since 1991.

Mr. Scott D. Moore, senior vice president and chief financial officer of PartnerRe, said: "We are delighted to have someone with Anne Marie's qualifications join PartnerRe. Anne Marie's background and experience as a global fixed income investment manager, and in insurance company investment management brings added breadth and depth to managing our investment portfolio, which was in excess of $1.2 billion as of June 30, 1995.'' PartnerRe Ltd. provides, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd., catastrophe reinsurance to insurance companies on a worldwide basis. Risks reinsured include windstorms, earthquakes, floods, fires and explosions.

Zurich Reinsurance Centre Holdings Inc. (ZRC) has announced that Mr. Melvin Y.

Crannell has been appointed senior vice president - facultative underwriting.

ZRC is 58 percent owned by Bermuda-based holding company, Zurich Centre Investments Ltd.

Mr. Crannell, who had been vice president/general manager: facultative special accounts, will now be responsible for ZRC's facultative special accounts and a number of management activities in support of Mr. Gerald S. King, senior vice president and chief facultative underwriting officer.

ZRC president and chief operating officer, Mr. Richard E. Smith, said, "Since joining ZRC, Mel has provided invaluable service in the development and direction of our facultative operations. I look forward to his continued contributions and accomplishments.'' Prior to joining ZRC in 1993, Mr. Crannell was a vice president with Skandia America Reinsurance and Facultative Managers Corp.