QBE Insurance Group Ltd. has appointed Robert D. Byler as president and head of Program Business for its Americas Division based in New York.
Mr. Byler will focus on the program business strategy, create and implement strategic initiatives, and maintain relationships with the insurance and reinsurance communities, QBE said.
Mr. Byler previously served as president and chief executive officer of Amtrust Underwriters Inc. in Connecticut. Prior to that, he headed Alea Alternative Risk, a start-up insurance and reinsurance operation.
Last week, QBE the Americas said it completed its purchase of NAU Country Insurance Company (NAU).
QBE first announced its plans to acquire Ramsey, Minn.-based NAU, a writer of crop insurance, in April.
NAU, with 10 offices in the U.S. and 1,600 independent agents, had about $354 million of net earned premium in 2009 and $92.5 million in profit.
With NAU, QBE gross written premium in 2010 is more than $5 billion, the company said.
