NU Online News Service, June 2, 11:58 p.m.edt

Bermuda-based Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. announced thatMichael Fujii, the chief executive officer of its worldwideinsurance operations, is retiring.

Mr. Fujii, 55, joined Endurance in 2004 to establish and buildEndurance's U.S. insurance business.

In today's statement, Mr. Fujii said he plans to spend more timewith his family, to tend to the immediate needs of his agingparents and to pursue interests outside of work.

"I enjoyed the opportunity to build a new U.S. insuranceoperation on behalf of Endurance from the ground up, but it is timefor me to move to a new chapter in my life," Mr. Fujii said.

David Cash, Endurance's CEO, noted that Mr. Fujii has been "asignificant presence in the U.S. insurance industry for the betterpart of three decades," going on to thank him for his contributionsto Endurance over the past six years "and the critical role heplayed in building Endurance's U.S. insurance business."

Mr. Cash became CEO on March 1 when the former CEO, KennethLeStrange, retired.

According to information on the Endurance website, Mr. Fujii hasfocused in the specialty lines property and casualty insuranceindustry for 30 years. Before joining Endurance in 2004, he servedas president and CEO of Great American Custom Insurance Servicesfrom 1992 to 2004.

Prior to that, he spent eleven years with the CIGNA InsuranceCompanies, serving as President of CIGNA Excess & SurplusInsurance Co. and earlier as Vice President and chief financialofficer of CIGNA's Excess & Surplus division.

Mr. Fujii joined Endurance as president and CEO of the U.S.Insurance Operations. He was appointed to lead the global insurancebusiness in 2006.