Chubb has appointed Judy Gonsalves vice-president of Chubb Group and division president of Bermuda.

Effective immediately, and subject to regulatory review, Ms Gonsalves will succeed Joseph Clabby, who will be named chairman of Chubb Bermuda.

In this new role, Mr Clabby will serve in an advisory role to Ms Gonsalves and the Chubb Bermuda team.

In her new role, Ms Gonsalves has executive operating responsibility for the Bermuda-based commercial property and casualty insurance business that writes high-limit excess liability, property, directors and officers, and political risk coverage worldwide.

In addition, she will lead all strategies around production, product development and management, and profit and loss performance for Chubb Bermuda.

Ms Gonsalves currently serves as executive vice-president and chief underwriting officer of Chubb Bermuda, where she partners with Mr Clabby in leading the operation and is responsible for enhancing the profitability of the excess liability, property and financial lines books of business of Chubb Bermuda and Chubb Bermuda International.

In addition to Mr Clabby’s Chubb Bermuda responsibilities, he will also join Chubb’s North America field management leadership team, with a focus on product expansion, distribution and cross sell initiatives in Chubb regions and branches.

He will be based in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, and will report to Christopher Maleno, Chubb’s division president of its North American field operations.

Ms Gonsalves will remain in Bermuda and will report to John Lupica, vice-chairman, Chubb Group and president, North America major accounts and specialty insurance.

“As our company’s 42nd employee, Judy has made significant contributions throughout her tenure,” said Mr Lupica. “Her extensive experience, proven track record and understanding of the Bermuda marketplace will provide real value to our efforts in highlighting the unique benefits and advantages of doing business with Chubb Bermuda.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Ms Gonsalves joined Ace (now known as Chubb) in 1992 as an assistant underwriter in the excess liability department.

In 2004, she was appointed senior vice-president, assuming product line management responsibility for Ace Bermuda and Ace Bermuda International’s catastrophe excess liability portfolio, and was promoted to executive vice-president in April 2010, before assuming her current role.

“We are excited about Joe’s return to the US and our field operations leadership team,” Mr Maleno said.

“This new alignment underscores the agility of our company, our deep bench of leadership, and our commitment to providing the marketplace with superior quality services and offerings.

“Joe’s extensive knowledge about our business, coupled with his commercial acumen and global insight into industry issues will enable us to further strengthen our distribution strategy across North America.”

Mr Clabby has more than three decades of industry experience, with 17 years being spent at Chubb. Most recently, he served as Chubb’s division president of Bermuda and its Global Accounts Division.