Axis Capital Holdings' insurance division has created a design professionals and environmental liability unit in New Jersey, specialising in providing coverage for architects, engineers, contractors, consultants and other firms.

Richard Zarandona, who has recently joined Axis Insurance as executive vice-president of Axis design professionals and environmental based will lead the new unit.

Mr. Zarandona has almost 30 years of industry experience and most recently served as head of Arch Insurance Group's environmental and design professional division for eight years.

Prior to joining Arch, he had been vice-president and director of Zurich North America's architects and engineers and environmental consultants liability lines of business.