NU Online News Service, March 24, 3:29 p.m.EDT

ACE Risk Management, the large account primary casualty divisionof ACE USA, has announced Matt Merna is its new chief operatingofficer.

He will oversee ACE Risk Management's business units across theUnited States in addition to retaining his current role aspresident of ACE Financial Solutions.

Mr. Merna joined ACE USA in 2000, and has more than fifteenyears of experience in the insurance industry, ACE said, addingthat he has held various management positions in public accountingand insurance in New York and Europe.

ACE also appointed Bill Rabl as president of operations at ACERisk Management, a role that he will assume in addition to hiscurrent responsibilities as chief underwriting officer. He willtake on oversight of ACE Risk Management's operations, finance andother support units, ACE said.

Mr. Rabl has previously held several senior management roles inboth the insurance brokerage and carrier markets. He has heldsenior leadership roles at Lockton, American International Group(AIG) and the Continental Insurance Company, ACE said.

Jay Lefkowitz has been appointed president, national accounts atACE Risk Management. He will oversee the national accounts unit,which provides risk management programs and services to largercompanies with a minimum of $5 million in combined expected losses,ACE said.

Mr. Lefkowitz joined ACE USA in Nov. 1999, and most recentlyserved as executive vice president of ACE Risk Management'snational accounts division.