Casualty Firm Opens Property Division

Kemper Casualty Company is creating a property division it says will target large energy, technical, industrial and commercial risks. It will be based in Princeton, NJ, with underwriting operations in New York City.

Kemper Casualty Company President and CEO Dennis Kane said that Akos Swierkiewicz has joined the group to form the division. ``The property division will provide us with exceptional capabilities in the national account arena,'' said Kane. ``It's an ideal adjunct to nearly all of our casualty units.

``Our property unit will focus on different market segments subject to less competition, use higher deductibles and bring special underwriting and pricing skills,'' said Kane. ``The key to our success will be acquiring underwriters with specialized large-risk skills in our target markets. We're pleased that Akos has agreed to join us in this venture. He has outstanding credentials to make this succeed.''

Swierkiewicz began his 29-year insurance career at INA's International Department and continued as vice president and senior product line officer of CIGNA's Special Risk Facilities in New York, which Kane formerly headed.

He joined SCOR Reinsurance Co. in 1986 as senior vice president and head of the Research and Special Risks Department. In 1989, he joined the management team as senior vice president to help start SOREMA NA Reinsurance Company in New York City. While at SOREMA, he also headed up the Services Department, which included corporate marketing functions and served as executive vice president of Fulcrum Insurance Company, a subsidiary of SOREMA NA.

In the past two years, Swierkiewicz was president of IRCOS, an insurance consulting firm, providing specialized services to the insurance industry.

Susan Doyle will join Swierkiewicz in the property division as vice president of property underwriting, specializing in the energy industry. Most recently, Susan was senior vice president of global power and energy with ACE.

``Susan brings the right underwriting experience and large-risk skills that will allow us to succeed in the energy market on a global basis,'' said Kane. ``She's well respected in the property arena and is a welcome addition to this new unit.''

Doyle will focus on underwriting property for petrochemical and power generation businesses, as well as the construction associated with both of these areas.

Doyle is an industry veteran who began her career in 1980 at Starr Tech/AIG. She joined CIGNA as an assistant account executive in the property department at CIGNA in 1985. From 1988 to 1991, she was deputy product line officer/director for CIGNA.

In 1991, Doyle became an energy producer when she joined Jardine Insurance Services as senior vice president. She returned to CIGNA in 1993 as assistant vice president at SRF headquarters and, in 1994, transferred to the Houston SRF as assistant vice president and underwriting manager where she remained until moving to the global power and energy department.