Lloyd's underwriter Hiscox said it has named Ed Donnelly, 45,president of Hiscox USA as part of a move to expand its presenceand distribution efforts in the United States market.

The company said Mr. Donnelly, who has been a senior vicepresident with Professional Indemnity Agency, will report toDirector of Underwriting Robert Childs and be based in Armonk,N.Y.

Hiscox said the opening of a U.S. office headed by Mr. Donnellyis scheduled for early 2006. The company said he also will be incharge of launching and rolling out Hiscox's specialist productsfor businesses outside the Fortune 1000 that are placed throughU.S.-based local and regional brokers.

Mr. Donnelly has over 21 years of underwriting experience withpositions at American International Group and HoustonCasualty-owned PIA.

Separately, Hiscox has made two other appointments to developits distribution network for Fortune 1000 risks in the UnitedStates and focus on large international insurance coverage placedin London via global broker networks.

Nick Ward, 42, has been promoted to the newly created positionof global markets development underwriter for Hiscox Syndicate33.

Based in the United States, the company said his role willinvolve the development of new and servicing of existing businessacross all lines placed into Syndicate 33 via the London brokernetwork. Mr. Ward previously ran the Global Markets professionalindemnity account for Syndicate 33 and has been at Hiscox foralmost eight years.

Hiscox said it has added David Chavez, 47, as U.S. technologyunderwriter. He will work with the Global Markets TMT team todevelop their relationships with brokers and clients in the UnitedStates. Mr. Chavez was assistant general counsel atPeoplesoftInc.

Bronek Masojada, Hiscox chief executive, said: "The UnitedStates already accounts for 40 percent of our business today. Theseappointments reflect our commitment to developing our service tobrokers and customers in this important market and building on thestrong business relationships we already have there."