NU Online News Service, Oct. 26, 12:15 p.m. EDT

Alterra Capital Holdings Limited announced that Stephen J.Vaccaro Jr., chief executive officer of Alterra Specialty, waspresented with the Service to Industry Award by the ProfessionalInsurance Wholesalers Association of New York State (PIWA).

This honor is awarded annually to an individual for strongcommitment to and support of the excess and surplus linesindustry.

In addition, Sonia Galvis, chief underwriting officer of AlterraLatin America, was recently presented with the Cesareo Jaimes MeritAward by Asociacion Colombiana de Tecnicos en Reaseguros (ACTER),the Colombian Association of Technical Reinsurance. This awardrecognizes outstanding professional achievement and is given toaccomplished leaders of the insurance industry in Colombia.

W. Marston (Marty) Becker, president and chief executive officerof Alterra, said in a statement: "We congratulate Sonia and Stevefor having been recognized by their peers for the extraordinarycontributions they have made over the years in their respectivemarkets and are proud that they are now key members of Alterra'sleadership team. They both exemplify the personal and professionalqualities that we value so highly at Alterra and that we believehelp to make us a market of choice for our clients."

Alterra was formed on May 12 by the merger of Max Capital GroupLtd. and Harbor Point Limited. Alterra Capital Holdings is a globalenterprise dedicated to providing diversified specialty insuranceand reinsurance products to corporations, public entities, andproperty and casualty insurers.