W. R. Berkley Corporation Announces Promotions at Acadia Insurance Company

W. R. Berkley Corporation announced the promotions of Richard A. Sawyer to chairman and chief executive officer, and Rick B. Cote to president and chief operating officer of Acadia Insurance Company, a wholly-owned regional property casualty company.

Sawyer and Cote joined W. R. Berkley in 1992 and were pivotal in the formation of Acadia Insurance Company in Portland, Maine. Acadia provides a full line of property casualty insurance through 140 independent agencies in northern New England. Since its launch in 1992, Acadia has consistently produced excellent underwriting results.

Prior to joining Acadia as president in 1992, Sawyer was president of Hanover of Maine, Inc. Previously, he had underwriting experience with Continental Insurance and Maine Bonding. He entered the insurance industry in 1971, received his CPCU in 1980, and is a past president of the Maine Chapter of CPCU. He is a graduate of Husson College in Maine.

Cote, 48, was named as executive vice president of Acadia in 1992, following a period as vice president of Underwriting at Hanover of Maine, Inc. He is a graduate of Boston College and has worked with USF&G and in independent agencies. He received his CPCU in 1986 and is also a past president of the Maine Chapter of CPCU.

W. R. Berkley Corporation is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, operates in all segments of the property casualty insurance industry.