NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) -Guy Carpenter & Company has announced a number of key appointments to its US treaty operations.

Peter Zaffino, formerly head of the Eastern Region, has been named executive vice president and head of US Treaty Operations.

In his expanded role, Mr. Zaffino will assume operational oversight for the firm's Mid-America and Western regions and will retain responsibility for the eastern region.

In addition, Charles Hewitt has joined the firm as executive vice president.

Mr. Hewitt will play a significant role as a co-leader of the eastern region. He will be based in Boston, where he will establish a branch office and expand Guy Carpenter's current capabilities in New England.

"These changes reflect Guy Carpenter's commitment to enhancing our existing strengths and building new capabilities to better serve our clients," said Britt Newhouse, president of the firm's Americas operations.

"Peter's leadership and operational skills will enhance our ability to deliver the finest risk management solutions to clients across the United States, while Chuck's experience and strong industry relationships provide a significant boost to our capabilities in Boston and the rest of New England."

Mr. Hewitt joins Guy Carpenter from Benfield Group, where he has held a number of senior positions, most recently executive vice president and senior account executive in Benfield's Boston office.

He holds both a Massachusetts Individual Property Casualty Broker license and a Massachusetts Individual Reinsurance Broker license.

In addition to earning a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, Mr. Hewitt holds a bachelor's degree in business from Harvard College and an MBA in money and banking from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.