The Ace Group of Companies this week announced it has appointed Robert Courtemanche as chief executive officer of Ace Private Risk Services, effective April 7.

Based in Madison, New Jersey, Mr. Courtemanche will be responsible for directing the overall growth and profitability of Ace's personal insurance lines, including Ace Recreational Marine and Private Risk Services, the North America-based high-net-worth personal lines business of Ace.

Ace Private Risk Services provides specialty coverages including homeowners, automobile, umbrella liability, fine art and collections insurance for affluent individuals and families. In addition to his North American responsibilities, Mr. Courtemanche will partner with the Ace Overseas General leadership team in leading Ace's expansion into the high-net-worth businesses across the globe.

Mr. Courtemanche will report to Brian Dowd, Ace's chief executive officer for Insurance-North America.

Mr. Courtemanche has more than 20 years of personal lines insurance industry experience, with a special focus on leading businesses that insure the assets of affluent clients. He joins Ace from Fireman's Fund, where he served as president of its personal insurance business. He previously served as senior vice-president of American International Group's (AIG) private client group.

Bermuda reinsurer Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. yesterday announced that Gerald Konig, chief executive officer of Montpelier Europa AG, has been appointed head of marketing for Europe and the Middle East, effective May 1, 2008.

Mr. Konig joined Montpelier in August 2007 and is the former head of sales and marketing for GE Frankona Re in Munich. He is based in Zug, Switzerland and has existing responsibility for Continental Europe and the Middle East.

In his new role Mr. Konig also assumes responsibility for France and the Benelux countries from Nicholas Newman-Young, who retires as CEO of Montpelier Marketing Services (UK) Ltd., also effective May 1, 2008.

Anthony Taylor, CEO and chairman of Montpelier, said: "Gerald is a very experienced marketing professional with an established following in Europe and the Middle East. He is ideally placed to lead our initiative to access more regional and mid-market business going forward."

Montpelier also announced announced the appointment of Thomas Busher as head of European operations, effective July 1, 2008.

Mr. Busher is a founding member of Montpelier's management and is deputy chairman and chief operating officer of the Montpelier Group.

He is a director of Spectrum Syndicate Management Limited, which manages Montpelier Syndicate 5151 at Lloyd's, and is also chairman of Montpelier Europa AG, Montpelier's Swiss Lloyd's Coverholder.

Montpelier further announced that Mr. Busher has entered into a new service agreement effective July 1, 2008, which secures his services as deputy chairman and chief operating officer for three years, and which may be extended thereafter by mutual agreement.

Mr. Taylor said: "We have now concluded our recent round of senior management appointments. We have a strong team in place supporting every aspect of our business across all our platforms, and we continue to execute on our diversification strategy in a measured way, with the emphasis on organic growth."

XL Insurance, the global insurance operation of XL Capital Ltd., has named Bernard Horovitz to be chief underwriting officer of its Global Professional lines of business.

Mr. Horovitz will report to John Glancy, chief underwriting officer.

Mr. Horovitz served as XL Insurance's chief actuary - professional, which provides insurance indemnity for directors and officers, architects, engineers and other professionals against a variety of risks, including errors and omissions and employment practices.

In his new role, Mr. Horovitz will oversee all operations in the professional business unit, supervising a staff of more than 185 professionals throughout XL Insurance's global enterprise.

Mr. Glancy said: "Bernie brings a wealth of experience and talent to this key role. With more than 21 years as a property-casualty actuary, he is ideally suited to the job. He has great energy. What's more, his expertise ranges beyond actuarial methodology to all phases of the insurance operation, from underwriting, to marketing, to claims and product management. I am delighted to have Bernie step into this position."