CNA appointed a new general counsel. XL Catlin hired a new underwriter to support an expanded effort in the U.S. Everest Re Group grew its risk management underwriting team in the Midwest.

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CNA has appointed Scott Weber as executive vice president and general counsel. He succeeds Jon Kantor, who recently announced his retirement after nearly 23 years.

Prior to joining CNA in February, Weber most recently served as a managing director for risk management firm Stroz Friedberg, an Aon company. He practiced law for 21 years and held prominent partner roles at Latham & Watkins and Patton Boggs. Weber served as senior counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was special counsel to both the New Jersey Office of the Child Advocate and the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee.

Weber will report to Dino E. Robusto, CNA’s chairman and chief executive officer.

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XL Catlin hired on a former Zurich executive to help support its expanded Structured Risk Solutions underwriting capabilities in the U.S.

Aiden Joo will get the title of senior underwriter and be based in New York. He’ll report to Rob Turner, XL Catlin’s Global Head of Structured Risk Solutions in London.

Previously, Joo was at Zurich Global Corporate, where he was an underwriter and deal architect, developing a variety of insurance products including integrated insurance programs, risk financing and alternative risk transfer programs for large corporate clients

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Everest Re Group has expanded its risk management underwriting team with two key additions: Jeff Benzin as vice president and head of the Midwest region for Everest Insurance and John Romano as a vice president.

Benzin joins Everest from Avant Underwriters, where he was VP of alternative risk. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years at Zurich North America, where he most recently served as nationwide leader of the transportation underwriting unit. He will be based in the Everest Insurance Chicago office and will report directly to Dave Sandler, head of the Everest Insurance Risk Management Group.

Romano joins Everest from XL Insurance Group, where he was AVP and senior underwriter in the global risk management unit. Before that, he spent seven years at Zurich as part of the global corporate underwriting unit. He will be based in Denver and will report to Benzin.

Sources: CNA, XL Catlin, Everest Re Group