of EXEL Ltd.'s principal operating subsidiary XL Insurance Company, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer.

Mr. Cooney succeeds Mr. Brian O'Hara, who remains chairman and CEO. Mr. Cooney remains executive vice president of EXEL Ltd. and a member of the office of chief executive.

He joined XL as senior vice president of general liability writing in 1987 after beginning his career at General Reinsurance Corp. in Toronto. He first moved to Bermuda as president of Trenwick Services Ltd., managing facultative/specialty treaty reinsurance underwriting.

Senior vice president of XL, Mr. K. Bruce Connell, has been appointed to a new position of executive vice president and chief underwriting officer of XL Reinsurance Company Ltd., which commenced formal operations on Friday with $250 million in capital.

XL Re was specifically formed to meet the needs of buyers looking for large blocks of reinsurance capacity on a multi-year, multi-line basis through a single contract.

EXEL Ltd. has also named College of Insurance president Dr. Ellen Thrower a director of the company and its subsidiary XL Insurance Company, Ltd.

"We are very pleased to have Dr. Thrower join the board,'' said EXEL Ltd.

president and CEO Mr. Brian O'Hara.

Mr. Brian O'Hara