PEMBROKE, Bermuda, Aug. 11, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:ENH), a Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, today announced that Glenn Yanoff has been appointed to lead Endurance's U.S. wholesale insurance operations, effective upon the retirement of John Zachry from that role on December 1, 2011. Endurance's U.S. wholesale insurance operations offer property, casualty and specialty lines of business through a network of surplus lines wholesale agents which now will include Endurance's Contract Binding Authority unit, which Mr. Yanoff managed since its launch last year. Mr. Yanoff has more than thirty years of industry experience in the excess and surplus lines market holding various senior underwriting and production management roles.
Mr. Zachry joined Endurance in 2004 with more than thirty years of underwriting experience to manage and grow Endurance's U.S. property insurance book. In June 2010, he was promoted to be the Head of Endurance's U.S. wholesale insurance operations, assuming additional responsibility for all casualty and specialty portfolios. Mr. Zachry will continue to direct Endurance's U.S. wholesale insurance operations until December 1, 2011, with Mr. Yanoff reporting to him during the transition.
Steven Dresner, most recently named as the Head of Endurance's Specialty Operations for U.S. Insurance, will expand his role, effective immediately, to oversee property and excess casualty insurance in addition to his current responsibilities for primary insurance, professional lines and program business. Mr. Dresner has 29 years of underwriting experience and has held senior roles in Endurance's insurance and reinsurance operations since joining Endurance in May 2003. He will report to Mr. Yanoff.
John Zachry noted, "Our wholesale agent network has been a critical market for Endurance, and I look forward to working with Glenn and Steve to further develop our strategy in this marketplace and ensure that our producers and clients continue to have access to the full range of resources and capabilities that Endurance offers."
William M. Jewett, President of Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., commented, "We are fortunate to have such a talented management team within Endurance to assume leadership of this growth area for our business. Glenn joined us with a strong wholesale producer network and significant expertise in the market, and his commitment has resulted in the successful launch and growth of our contract binding authority portfolio. John, in his tenure at Endurance, has demonstrated unwavering dedication, keen business acumen and unparalleled professionalism. We now look to Glenn and John to work together over the next few months to ensure a seamless transition for our producers and clients."
About Endurance Specialty Holdings
Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. is a global specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Through its operating subsidiaries, Endurance writes property, casualty, healthcare liability, agriculture and professional lines of insurance and property, catastrophe, casualty, aerospace and marine, and surety and other specialty lines of reinsurance. We maintain excellent financial strength as evidenced by the ratings of A (Excellent) from A.M. Best (XV size category) and A (Strong) from Standard & Poor's. Endurance's headquarters are located at Wellesley House, 90 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda and its mailing address is Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Suite No. 784, No. 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. For more information about Endurance, please visit http://www.endurance.bm/">http://www.endurance.bm.