Bermuda-based Catlin Group Ltd has promoted its deputy chief underwriting officer Andrew McMellin to CEO of Catlin US.He replaces Richard Banas effective September 1, but will remain a member of the Catlin Group Executive Committee.“I am pleased to announce that Andrew McMellin will succeed Richard Banas as CEO of Catlin’s US underwriting hub,” said Stephen Catlin, chief executive of Catlin Group Limited. “Andrew has distinguished himself during his 13 years at Catlin in a variety of underwriting roles. I am delighted that Andrew is assuming responsibility for our growing US operations as a time when market conditions are improving in the US.”Mr McMellin joined Catlin in London in 2009 as a class underwriter for non-marine liability business and was appointed underwriting director for casualty business classes in 2003. He was appointed deputy underwriter of Catlin Syndicate in 2006, group underwriting director in 2008 and deputy chief underwriting officer of the Catlin Group in 2009.Prior to joining Catlin, he was liability class underwriter for M W Drysdale & Others, Syndicate 820 and a divisional director in the casualty team of Willis’ London Market Brokerage unit.The company’s current US CEO, Richard Banas, will continues as a member of the group executive committee and will assume the additional roles of chairman of Catlin’s underwriting hubs in the Asia-Pacific region and Canada. He will also lead the group’s insurance-related strategic investment activities in the US.“The success of Catlin’s US underwriting hub has been largely due to Rich Banas’ leadership,” Mr Catlin said. “When Rich joined Catlin in 2006, our US operations consisted of two small offices that wrote a negligible amount of premium volume. We now operate 20 offices in the US and Latin America, which will underwrite gross premiums of nearly US$1 billion this year. Rich has successfully recruited a team of more than 400 experienced underwriters and insurance professionals whose goals and values mirror those of the rest of the Group.”Mr Banas joined Catlin in April 2006 as President and CEO of Catlin US. Prior to joining Catlin, he was executive vice-president and chief underwriting officer of XL Professional Lines. He previously served as chief underwriting officer for XL’s global insurance operations.