Houston-based HCC Insurance Holdings Inc. announced today thatHCC Specialty Underwriters Inc. President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer William F. Hubbard will be promoted to the position ofchairman.

Matthew C. Overlan, HCCSU's current chief financial andoperating officer, will succeed Mr. Hubbard as CEO, and Marc D.Idelson, currently senior vice president, will be promoted topresident and chief underwriting officer, the company said.

All three executives were previously with HCCSU's predecessorcompany, American Specialty Underwriters. HCCSU specializes in thesports, film, entertainment and promotion marketing industries.

HCC CEO Frank J. Bramanti said the promotions will "supportHCCSU's strategy to optimally position itself to capitalize ongrowth opportunities by adding externally to existing lines ofbusiness and by expanding into complementary areas."

Mr. Hubbard has been with Wakefield, Mass.-based HCCSU since1989. He served in several positions during that time, includingdirector of the Contingency Division, senior vice president of theEnterprise Division, and president and CEO.

Mr. Overlan joined HCC Specialty Underwriters as controller in1998, became CFO in 2001 and assumed the additionalresponsibilities of COO in 2004.

Mr. Idelson began his insurance career in 1989, moving to HCCSUthe next year. He was named vice president for underwritingpersonal accident and contingency products in 1998 and promoted tosenior vice president of North American Underwriting in 1999.

HCCSU provides creative insurance products for professionalathletes, entertainers and other high-profile individuals, as wellas for the film, entertainment, sports and promotion marketingindustries.

A subsidiary of HCC Insurance Holdings Inc., HCCSU also providesrisk management services to agencies and firms that design andexecute sweepstakes, games and contests.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC Insurance Holdings Inc.(HCC) is a leading international specialty insurance group withoffices across the United States and in Belgium, Bermuda, Ireland,Spain and the United Kingdom. HCC has assets of nearly $8.1 billionand shareholders' equity in excess of $2.4 billion.