NEW YORK (Bloomberg) ? White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. said Jack Byrne was re-named chairman of the board, returning to a position he left in 2003 for health reasons.

Byrne, 73, replaces George Gillespie, 76, who will remain a director, the Bermuda-based insurer said on Friday. Byrne relinquished the chairmanship in November 2003 because of illness, White Mountains chief financial officer David Foy said.

?Jack is better now and he is returning to his rightful seat at the head of the table,? Foy said. He declined to elaborate on Byrne?s health. Byrne and Gillespie didn?t return calls for comment.