Switzerland News

Growing Skepticism Ignores Climate Change Facts; Max Merges with Harbor Point; Terrorist Pirates Threaten the Malacca Strait

The Climate Change debate rolls on, but real decisions and effective actions remain elusive. Hardly a week goes by without a new report or study on the changes affecting the atmosphere, but the general public appears to be contracting “climate …

Mandatory Microchips, Insurance Proposed for UK Dogs

A chip for Spot? In a country where guns are tightly controlled and even carrying a kitchen knife can bring prison time, some thugs use dogs to menace their victims. Now the British government is proposing that dog owners be …

Zurich Picks Perritaz to Replace Howie as Asia-Pacific/Middle East CFO

Zurich Financial Services Group has appointed Pascal Perritaz (37, Swiss citizen) to the position of Chief Financial Officer Asia-Pacific and Middle East (APME), effective April 1, 2010. He replaces Iain Howie, who has been appointed CFO Zurich Australia. Perritaz will …

People

Thomas J. Schaffler has been named president of Lockton Cos. employee benefits practice in Chicago. He joined Lockton more than 10 years ago as executive vice president and producer and serves on the Chicago executive committee. He is also a …

Rate of Glacier Melting May be Key Clue to Tracking Climate Change

The world has become far too hot for the aptly named Exit Glacier in Alaska. Like many low-altitude glaciers, it’s steadily melting, shrinking two miles (3 kilometers) over the past 200 years as it tries to strike a new balance …

Maag to Head North American P&C Unit for XL

XL Insurance has appointed Seraina Maag as chief executive of its North America Property & Casualty (P&C) unit. Maag most recently headed the Zurich North America Commercial, Specialties Business Unit, managing all aspects of that operation with offices across the …

United America Indemnity Plans to Re-Domicile in Ireland

United America Indemnity has announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to re-domicile from the Cayman Islands to Ireland. The Company’s shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization proposal at a …

EMEA Commercial Insurance Market ‘Stable’ Says Marsh Report

A new report from Marsh has concluded that “despite the global recession, the commercial insurance market remained stable in the second half of 2009. This provided many organizations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) with opportunities to enhance …

Catlin Appoints Zingg Group Chief Investment Officer

The Bermuda-based Catlin Group Limited announced the appointment of Martin Zingg as chief investment officer of the Catlin Group, effective March 1. He will be based in Catlin’s office in Zurich, Switzerland. Zingg will assume responsibility for investment strategy and …

Ratings Recap: WUEBA (Chartis), Solid, West of England Club, Coface, InterGlobal

A.M. Best Co. has withdrawn the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) of “bbb” of German insurer Wuerttembergische und Badische Versicherungs-AG (WUEBA) and assigned an NR-5 (Not Formally Followed) to the FSR and an …