Bermuda-based re/insurer Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd yesterday said Steven Dresner will assume responsibility for the company’s specialty insurance business unit, managing programmes with Managing General Underwriters (MGUs) as well as developing partnerships with additional MGUs in specialty areas.

Mr Dresner has more than 28 years of experience in the insurance industry and has served in several senior underwriting roles at Endurance, most recently as head of Endurance Worldwide Reinsurance’s Casualty Treaty and Workers’ Compensation business unit.

In this role, his responsibilities included managing the company’s relationship with a key Managing General Agent (MGA) business partner in the workers’ compensation specialty area.

William Jewett, president of Endurance, said: “Programme business provides an opportunity for us to leverage our knowledge of specialty businesses and additional distribution channels to diversify our product offerings. Steve has proven to be a valuable asset to Endurance as we have built our underwriting portfolio and I look forward to his continued success in this new role.”

Mr Dresner will report to John Zachry, head of Endurance’s US insurance wholesale operations, who added: “I am confident that Steve’s background in both insurance and reinsurance underwriting as well as his experience managing MGA business for Endurance uniquely qualifies him to manage our MGU relationships.”

Mr Dresner has held a number of senior underwriting roles in both the insurance and reinsurance segments since joining Endurance in May 2003 in conjunction with a renewal rights transaction deal with HartRe.

At HartRe, Mr Dresner served as vice-president and Casualty Practice leader responsible for all casualty lines for treaty and facultative business, including professional liability.