Elbow Beach Hotel has shown its commitment to hiring Bermudians with the promotion of four members of staff, despite the current economic downturn.

The hotel announced the appointment of Zeudi Hinds and Andrea Haffar to the Elbow Beach Executive Committee, with Ms Hinds, who was promoted to director of communications in January 2008, filling her role on the executive board in February, while Ms Haffar has been newly-promoted to her executive position of director of human resources.

Meanwhile, Cathy Albright, the hotel's former front of house manager, has been promoted to director of catering and sales, and eight-year veteran of the hotel, Natalie Arrington, has been promoted to the post of director of development and training.

Frank Stocek, general manager of Elbow Beach hotel, said: "These ladies have shown dedication and innovation while they have been employed at Elbow Beach.

"As we enter an unprecedented period in our industry, the key to weathering the storm is a strong management team.

"Each of these women brings a unique set of skills and fresh ideas, strengthening our management team as we face these challenging times."

Nabors Industries Ltd.'s Board of Directors has voted to expand from seven members to eight, with the appointment of John Lombardi to fill the newly-created vacancy.

Dr. Lombardi will join the Board as a Class I director and has also been appointed to each of the audit, compensation, and governance and nominating committees of the Board.

Dr. Lombardi has been the President of the Louisiana State University System (LSU), where he also serves as a Professor of History, since 2007.

Prior to joining LSU, he served as Chancellor and Professor of History of the University of Massachusetts Amherst between 2002 and 2007. Dr. Lombardi previously served in various capacities, including President, Director of The Center for Measuring University Performance, and Professor of History, at the University of Florida from 1990 to 2002; Provost, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and Professor of History at The Johns Hopkins University from 1987 to 1990; and in various capacities, including Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of International Programs, Director of the Latin American Studies Programme, and Professor of History, at Indiana University from 1967 to 1987, where in addition he taught a course on international business.

He also serves on the advisory board of the Jay I Kislak Foundation Inc.; previously served on the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts, where he also served on the executive committee; and serves on the executive strategic council of IMS Global Learning Consortium. Dr. Lombardi has authored or co-authored numerous books and articles on a wide variety of topics, including measuring university performance, Latin American history, and international business.

Gene Isenberg, Nabors chairman and CEO, said: "Dr. Lombardi brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Board. He has effectively served as the CEO and in other senior management capacities of several major universities. That management perspective, combined with his expertise in business in Latin America, complements and augments the already strong and diverse qualifications of our other Board members."

Renaissance Re has apparently hired ex-Heritage active underwriter Nick Jones as its Lloyd's syndicate underwriter, according to online publication Reinsurance.

The re/insurer, which saw rival Arch Insurance get the go-ahead for its own Lloyd's syndicate last month, will team up with former Heritage colleagues - direct and facultative property head Andrew Rowland and North American and international property binding authorities specialist Darren Warkcup, said the publication's sources said.

All three left Heritage on July 4 after the takeover of the syndicate was finalised by Argo Group.

Mr. Jones was said to be previously in talks with Arch, Berkshire Hathaway, Hannover Re, and Ironshore's Pembroke Syndicates.

Market sources also told Reinsurance that Mr. Jones' former mentor Les Rock, the former active underwriter at Heritage and Ironshore, may start his own syndicate in the Lloyd's market, but he could not be reached to confirm this.