Society (Bermuda) Ltd. (ALAS), Mr. Mark H. Berens, has announced that he will retire as chairman of ALAS and as chairman and CEO of ALAS' wholly owned subsidiary ALAS Inc., effective November 30.

The announcement came during the company's recent annual general meeting in Bermuda.

Mr. Kenneth L. Hammond, who has been with the mutual in Bermuda since 1987, will succeed Mr. Berens as CEO. He has been president since 1988. Mr.

Hammond's prior experience includes a law practice, manufacturing, venture capital and most recently reinsurance.

Meanwhile, the chairman of executive committee of both boards, Mr. Paul W.

Steere, will take over as chairman of both companies. Mr. Steere, who has had a long association with ALAS and has been a director since 1979, is a partner with Bogle & Gates in Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Berens, 66, is a partner in Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago. He has been chairman of ALAS since it was formed in 1979, and chairman of ALAS Inc. since it was formed in 1987.

The ALAS group of companies has its parent in Bermuda, although its primary insurance operation is through ALAS Inc. in Chicago. It is a mutual insurance company that insures the professional indemnity risk of 350 large US law firms, including 47,000 lawyers in 46 states and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Berens has been instrumental in ALAS' success as an insurer of large US law firms, and throughout his career has provided ALAS with leadership. He has been the driving force. Mr. Berens will continue to participate in ALAS' affairs as a member of ALAS' board of directors and as Chairman Emeritus.