W.R. Berkley Corporation based in Greenwich, Conn., announcedyesterday that William M. Rohde Jr. has been named president of itssubsidiary Acadia Insurance Company.

Mr. Rohde succeeds Bill Thornton, who will serve as chairman ofBerkley Regional Specialty Insurance Company, the insurer said.Walter E. Stradley remains president of Berkley RegionalSpecialty.

The appointments are effective immediately.

Acadia, based in Westbrook, Maine, is a provider of commercialproperty and casualty insurance in the Northeastern United Statesthrough independent agents.

Berkley Regional Specialty, located in Scottsdale, Ariz.,provides specialty insurance products to a select group ofindependent agencies that are associated with member companies ofW.R. Berkley's regional segment.

The company said Mr. Rohde has more than 23 years of experiencein the property and casualty insurance industry and was a seniorvice president at St. Paul Travelers, where he was employed for thepast 21 years.

Mr. Thornton joined W.R. Berkley in 1990 and has served aspresident of Acadia since 2000. Previously, he was president ofUnion Standard Insurance Company, another member company of W.R.Berkley, and has over 38 years of insurance industryexperience.