W.R. Berkley Corp. has appointed Robert Berkley Jr., the 36-year-old son of company founder and chief executive officer W.R. Berkley, to president and chief operating officer. As president and chief operating officer Berkley Jr. will manage all of the company’s operating units, adding oversight of the company’s reinsurance and international segments to his current responsibilities.

Berkley Jr. has worked as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch & Co. before joining W.R. Berkley in 1997. He has served as its executive vice president since August 2005. Berkley Jr. has served on the company’s board since election in 2001.

Other positions he has held in the company include senior vice presidentof specialty operations, overseeing the operations of the specialty segment and president of Berkley International LLC, with responsibility for the company’s international segment.

Berkley Jr.’s appointment is effective immediately.