Allied World Assurance Company Holdings has taken its first step to expand its reinsurance platform in the US by appointing John Bender as chief operating officer of US reinsurance.

Mr. Bender joins Allied World from Platinum Underwriters, where he was chief underwriting officer of its reinsurance casualty division since 2006, and brings with him 19 years of experience in the reinsurance industry.

In his new role, Mr. Bender will be responsible for building and managing Allied World's US reinsurance operations, and will work closely with the worldwide reinsurance management team to implement the company's US growth strategy. He will be based in Allied World's New York office and will report to president and CEO, Scott Carmilani.

Mr. Bender began his career in claims at St. Paul Re in 1989. He moved into underwriting shortly afterwards, and started managing St. Paul Re's commercial liability team in 1997. In 2006, Mr. Bender was appointed to chief underwriting officer at Platinum Underwriters.

He graduated with a degree in Marketing and a minor in Management Psychology from St. John's University. Mr. Bender is also an active member of the community, which includes being one of the three founding members and a current director of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The foundation was officially established in 2004 and raises money for cancer research.