in San Francisco.

The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bermuda-based Centre Reinsurance Holdings Ltd., sees the opening of the branch as an opportunity to broaden its West Coast business.

The office will be headed by director of Western region for Centre Re Fred Dopfel, who joins the company from investment backing firm Russell Miller Inc.

Joel Livingston, who has been with Centre Re since 1994, will be vice president and Anne Pretrides, formerly a consulting actuary at Tillinghast-Towers Perrin, has been named assistant vice president.