Bermuda-based Argo Group International Holdings Ltd has announced that Eduardo Pitombeira has joined the company as director of business development and financial lines for its commercial property and casualty insurance operations in Brazil.Mr Pitombeira will report to Pedro Purm, CEO of Argo Group’s Brazilian operations, and will be based in Sao Paulo.Leading the financial lines area, Mr Pitombeira will manage all undertakings related to specialty professional lines, casualty and surety products. He also will oversee and co-ordinate strategy for product, marketing and distribution for all of Argo Group’s underwriting activities in Brazil.Mr Pitombeira was responsible for the start-up of the financial lines operation at Zurich Latin America, and over the past two years, he exclusively worked in the Brazilian marketplace developing the second largest financial lines portfolio in Brazil. His prior experience also includes developing and launching the financial lines portfolio at Ace Brazil.Meanwhile Argo Surety, a member of Argo Group International Holdings, has announced that it has established a presence in the Chicago area with the appointment of Dan Carlson as vice-president for north central and western US regions.In addition, the company is now offering up to $50 million in aggregate surety bond capacity for qualifying clients.Mr Carlson will report to Argo Surety chief underwriting officer Josh Betz.Mr Carlson has more than 25 years of commercial surety experience. For the past eight years, he served as senior regional vice-president for Zurich Surety.