XL Group’s Construction Business Expands

XL Group Plc.’s North American construction unit is putting their construction risk management expertise closer to their brokers and the contractors they serve, with a West Coast underwriting operation in San Francisco.

XL is setting up a West Coast presence with Michael Simone, currently executive underwriter of construction primary casualty, and Markus Bachmann, VP, builder’s risk. XL says Simone and Bachmann are relocating from New York to the San Francisco office.

XL says that, with the move, Simone is promoted to regional VP to manage Western region construction operations. Simone joined XL last year from Old Republic Construction Program Group, where he served as product manager on all loss-sensitive accounts. He also had 16 years of underwriting experience through positions at Reliance National and Crum & Forster Insurance Co.

Bachmann originally joined XL’s energy group, says the company, in June 2010 and transferred to its construction team at the end of 2010 to underwrite contractors' builder's risk insurance coverages. He brought more than 20 years of builder’s risk and underwriting experience from his work with Allianz, Zurich, Gerling Insurance Group, ABB Insurance Brokers, Union Reinsurance and Winterthur Insurance Co.