Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings Ltd. has appointed Michael Nuenke as executive vice-president of US operations.

Mr. Nuenke will be responsible for compliance, controls, procedures and financial management for existing programmes and related operations as well as reviewing and assessing opportunities for new programmes and related business.

He will also assist the company in its efforts to expand its presence into the southwest US.

Gordon Knight, president of US insurance operations, said: "Mike's leadership and extensive background in assessing, developing, monitoring and managing insurance programme operations will be a key to the success of Allied World's growth strategy in the United States. We are pleased to have Mike join the Allied World team and look forward to his contributions to Allied World's US programme operations."

Mr. Nuenke brings more than 16 years of experience within the insurance industry and has experience assessing, developing and managing insurance operations, with a focus on programme development, due diligence and operational review, internal controls, process improvement and treasury management.

He previously served as senior vice-president of programme operations for Glencoe US Holdings Inc., where he developed and managed the programme operations unit that was responsible for operational due diligence and implementation of new programmes in addition to the monitoring, oversight and support of existing programmes.

Mr. Nuenke also held similar senior positions with Ward North America Inc., HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., ESG Re Ltd. and TIG Insurance Co.

He graduated with a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and has earned his JD from the University of Houston Law Centre.