W.R. Berkley Corp. promoted three long-time executives at the company to the offices of executive vice president.

Eugene Ballard, who has been with Berkley since 1999, has previously served as senior vice president and chief financial officer. He also has more than 40 years experience in accounting and finance. In his new role, he’ll have oversight responsibility for the finance, accounting and actuarial departments.

Ira Lederman, a Berkley employee since 1983, has served as senior vice president, general counsel and berkley_logo_intsecretary since 2001. Lederman has more than 35 years of legal experience, of which more than 30 has been with Berkley. His new responsibilities will include oversight of Berkley’s legal, compliance, claims and other administrative functions.

James Shiel, a Berkley employee since 1987, was most recently senior vice president for investments, and has more than 30 years of experience in the field. He’ll continue to oversee investments involving Berkley and its subsidiaries.

Separately, Berkley announced that Matthew M. Ricciardi was named senior vice president and general counsel, replacing Lederman. Ricciardi has nearly 20 years of legal experience in the insurance industry and most recently served as chief counsel, general corporate for MetLife, Inc. In his new role, he will be responsible for legal affairs and will report to Lederman.

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JLT Re named Chris Bennett as a partner in the London & International Market division, where he’ll support JLT Re’s cyber reinsurance capability.

Most recently, Bennett was head of the U.K. Treaty Divisions and Retro at Cooper Gay, and also a director of AG Gallagher U.K.

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Ironshore has a new senior vice president for its global property energy division, and it promoted from within.

Daniel Owen will keep his position as senior vice president of global property builder’s risk business lines even as he assumes his new role.

Ironshore uses its global property energy division to provide specialty insurance programs for the property energy sector including midstream and downstream oil gas production, mining, heavy industries, electric utilities and alternative energy.

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Jennifer Knox

Swiss Re’s Corporate Solutions division added two new senior executives who will be based in North America.

Jennifer Knox is now senior vice president and sales leader of the west region, as part of the carrier’s North America regional sales team. She’ll focus on generating new business, managing key broker and client relationships and driving growth in the west region.

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Michael Kwan

Michael Kwan is signing on to Swiss Re’s Casualty North America division as senior vice president and head of excess and surplus casualty. He’ll lead the team and focus on expanding its capabilities and revenue in North America.

Both Knox and Kwan are long-time industry veterans.

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Josh Dircks

Lockton named a new senior vice president in its Bermuda division.

Specifically, Josh Dircks will focus in his new role on expanding the capabilities of Lockon’s Global Energy arm in Bermuda. He comes to Lockton with more than 10 years of experience as both an underwriter and broker on excess casualty, complex accounts, and global energy programs

Before Lockton, Dircks was at Starr Companies, and he has also worked at Aon.