Richard Gieryn, Jr., currently general counsel of AXIS US Holdings, Incorporated, has been promoted to general counsel of AXIS Capital.

In his current position, Mr. Gieryn serves as chief legal counsel for AXIS Capital's global underwriting and claims operations.

As general counsel of AXIS Capital, Mr. Gieryn will now oversee all legal matters at the company, reporting directly to AXIS Capital CEO and president John Charman.

Mr. Gieryn joined AXIS Capital from Combined Specialty Group, Incorporated in January 2003 with over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Prior to AXIS Capital, Mr. Gieryn held general counsel positions at Combined Specialty Group, Incorporated, ACE INA, ACE USA and Westchester Specialty Group.

Independent Consulting Solutions (ICS) has formed a new partnership with the Resilience Corporation, a provider of high availability firewall platforms.

The partnership with Resilience Corporation adds another staple to ICS's assortment of firewall platforms including Nokia, Check Point and Cisco, all of which are designed to improve a company's IT infrastructure security.

Resilience firewalls support NGX, Check Point's latest security software platform. NGX delivers unified security architecture for perimeter, internal and web security.

By aligning with NGX, Resilience helps businesses cut the cost of security management, secure more network and application types, and manage scalable, fault-tolerant, secure virtual private networks (VPNs).

Increasingly, companies are using VPN's to accommodate the needs of remote employees and distant offices.

TeleBermuda International has put its support behind the Bacardi team attending the Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour by making a monetary contribution and providing free Global Calling Cards.

The cards were donated to each member of the Bacardi team attending the MS Bike Tour. The May 6-7 event consists of a 150 mile bike tour which starts in Miami and travels to Key Largo and back.

TBI's Director of Marketing, Angela Ambrosini, said, "It's a genuine pleasure to help support such a worthy cause. Multiple Sclerosis is a pervasive disease that continues to impact many individuals.

TBI is happy to participate with both the Bike Tour cash donation plus free Global Prepaid Calling Cards to the Bacardi biking team members. In this way, the Bacardi team can easily call home to let everyone know how their fundraiser opportunity is transpiring."

Denise Somerville, one of the Bacardi team members, explained why she was participating. "MS is an unpredictable and devastating disease that can attack any one of us in the prime of life."

Patrick Tannock has been promoted to executive vice president, Ace Bermuda Insurance Limited.

Mr. Tannock is responsible for the management of Ace Bermuda's professional lines business. He also serves as chief underwriting officer and director of Ace Bermuda's specialist directors and officers insurance subsidiary, Corporate Officers & Directors Assurance Limited (CODA).

Rees Fletcher, president and chief executive officer of Ace Bermuda said: "Patrick has been instrumental in the growth and profitability of Ace Bermuda's professional liability business. He has a proven record of product innovation and continues to address client and industry needs. I am delighted to announce his well-earned promotion."

Mr. Tannock has over 20 years experience in the international insurance industry. He joined Ace in 1993 from Marsh & McLennan (Bermuda) Limited, where he held the position of vice president and manager of the company's professional liability division.

He previously served as a reinsurance broker with Risk Treatment Services and INA International, where he began his insurance career.

He is a regular participant and speaker at professional and educational conferences and currently serves as co-chairman of the Bermuda PLUS Conference.