Robert Needle has joined Bermuda-based property and casualty reinsurer Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. as executive vice-president of excess casualty and professional lines.

Speaking about the appointment, which is subject to approval by the Bermuda Department of Immigration, Michael Fujii, chief executive officer of Global Insurance, said: "Bob is a seasoned insurance executive. His depth of knowledge across the insurance industry and his understanding of broker and client needs and relationships will be significant to us in the growth of our excess casualty and professional lines."

After beginning his career in the legal field focusing on insurance matters, Mr. Needle joined Alexander & Alexander and Aon, where he served in various senior executive capacities over a 27-year period.

Most recently Mr. Needle served as an attorney with Gibbons PC, as counsel in the Insurance Practice Group.

Meanwhile, Endurance also announced that Win Hotchkiss Jr. has joined the company to serve as senior vice-president, capital markets of Endurance Worldwide Reinsurance.

He will spearhead Endurance's initiative to evaluate and drive alternative capital markets solutions on a global basis.

William Jewett, CEO of Worldwide Reinsurance, said: "Win brings to Endurance extensive expertise and experience in capital market alternatives and enhancements to reinsurance. He will help us combine Endurance's commercial knowledge and underwriting strengths with a broad range of capital sources seeking insurance risk, enhancing our long-term profitability and return on capital and that of our clients."

Mr. Hotchkiss joins Endurance after more than seven years as president and managing member of Financial Capital Advisors LLC, a business he founded to serve a network of private equity and insurance relationships. Previously, Mr. Hotchkiss spent seven years as a principal at Marsh & McLennan Capital. His 25-year career also includes experience at Conning & Company, Guy Carpenter, Marsh Inc., and AIG.

Scottish Re Group Ltd. has appointed David Carrick as senior vice-president and group controller.

The appointment was made effective January 1, 2008., and Mr. Carrick, who is based at the company's headquarters in Hamilton, will report to Terry Eleftheriou, executive vice-president and chief financial officer.

Mr. Carrick's career extends over 18 years of senior finance and controllership roles with international corporations. Most recently, he was the director of finance for Tyco International Ltd., where he was responsible for all of the finance functions of Tyco's Dublin, Luxembourg, and Bermuda offices, including treasury and operations support.

In his role as group controller, Mr. Carrick will be responsible for oversight of the corporate financial reporting and controllership activities based in Bermuda and other key locations. He will also oversee internal financial controls important to the integrity of internal and external communications, safeguarding of assets and mitigation of risk, including compliance activities related to annual and quarterly certifications in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley.

Mr. Eleftheriou said: "David's experience in global control practices and financial reporting will be an asset to the organisation as we continue to upgrade and streamline our financial processes and enhance our internal financial controls."