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Neal Wolin, president and chief operating officer of the Hartford Financial Services Group's property-casualty operations--who previously worked with the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton--is taking a post with President Barack Obama.

His company announced he has accepted a White House position as deputy counsel to the President for economic policy and deputy assistant to the President.

A search for Wolin's successor is underway, the company said.

In addition to announcing Mr. Wolin's move, the Hartford named two of its senior property-casualty executives--Juan Andrade and Jonathan Bennett--as interim co-leads of p-c operations. They will report to The Hartford's president and chief operating officer, Tom Marra.

Mr. Andrade is currently executive vice president of sales and distribution for property and casualty. Mr. Bennett is currently executive vice president of personal lines and small business insurance.

"Given the importance of the issues facing the country, there is no greater honor than being called to serve," said Mr. Wolin, in a statement. "I am looking forward to being part of the President's team of advisors in this most challenging period."

He added that "it has been an extraordinary privilege to be a part of The Hartford's leadership team and the company's nearly 200-year history," adding that he has great confidence in the future of The Hartford property-casualty operations, "and have no doubt that the strategies and initiatives we have put in place effectively position the business for success. "

Mr. Wolin joined The Hartford in 2001 as executive vice president and general counsel. He was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Property and Casualty Operations in June 2007.

"President Obama is building an outstanding economic team to address the many complex challenges facing the nation and our financial system," said Ramani Ayer, chairman and chief executive officer of the Hartford-based insurer. "We recognize the unique call to service this presents for Neal and wish him all the best in his return to Washington."

He added that "for nearly eight years, Neal has been both a wonderful colleague and an outstanding leader for The Hartford, and we are of course disappointed with this news. That said, we are fortunate to have a strong and experienced property and casualty team to continue the excellent work underway."

Mr. Wolin's last government job was as general counsel at the U.S. Department of the Treasury from 1999 to January 2001 during the Clinton administration.

In that post, he headed Treasury's legal division, with a complement of 2,000 lawyers supporting all of Treasury's offices and bureaus, including the Internal Revenue Service, Customs, Secret Service, Public Debt, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Financial Management Service, the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Prior to that, Mr. Wolin served as the deputy general counsel of the Department of the Treasury from 1995 to 1999.

Before joining the Treasury Department, he served in the White House as the executive assistant to the national security advisor, and then as the deputy legal advisor to the National Security Council.

Mr. Wolin joined the U.S. government during the Bush administration in 1991 as special assistant to the directors of Central Intelligence, William H. Webster, Robert M. Gates and R. James Woolsey.

Mr. Wolin is a graduate of Yale Law School and Yale University, and he holds a Masters in Science degree in Development Economics from the University of Oxford.

Special Reports /

Hartford P-C President Wolin Takes White House Post

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