W.R. Berkley Corp. gave the head of its Berkley Re Asia operations some added new responsibilities as part of a reorganization. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance appointed a former Chubb executive to head its General Casualty operations in the UK.

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W.R. Berkley Corp. appointed Glen Riddell, chief executive officer of Berkley Re Asia, to the additional role of chief executive officer of Berkley Re Australia. The appointment is effective December 31, 2021.

Tony Piper will continue as chief executive officer of Berkley Re Australia until that time, when he will transition into the role of chairman of the operating unit.

Riddell joined Berkley Re Asia in 2015 as chief executive officer and has 30 years of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance experience in the Asia Pacific region. In his dual role as CEO of Berkley Re Asia and Berkley Re Australia, he will bring together the management and oversight of both operating units.

Piper joined Berkley Re Australia in 2009 as assistant general manager and was appointed CEO in 2013. As chairman, he will retain an active role, assisting the team with strategic client relationships, the transition into this new structure and other special projects and initiatives.

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance named Caroline Alder-Smurthwaite, Head of General Casualty, UK.

Alder-Smurthwaite comes to BHSI from Chubb, where she spent 12 years in increasingly senior positions, most recently London Corporate Casualty Manager. She began her career on the claims side of the business at Gerling Insurance. Caroline earned a BA with Honours in European Studies, International Business, from the University of Central Lancashire. She is based in BHSI’s office in London.

Source: W.R. Berkley Corp., BHSI