Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Ltd. has opened two new offices for its US business in California, located in Costa Mesa and Los Angeles. The offices were opened to expand distribution of Allied World's specialty products throughout Western America.

Bobby Bowden, Allied World US executive vice-president of marketing/business development and Western regional manager, will oversee Allied World's West Coast operations, including the two new offices and the existing office located in San Francisco.

Mr. Bowden joined Allied World in October 2008 and brings with him more than 18 years of insurance experience, including at AIG and Marsh & McLennan, working out of New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Allied World's Costa Mesa office will serve as a distribution point for Allied World Specialty, a division of Allied World US that primarily trades with wholesale broking channels. Mark Kleabir, senior vice-president of Allied World Specialty, will oversee general casualty products and serve as branch manager.

The Los Angeles office will serve as a distribution point for Allied World Brokerage, a division of Allied World US that primarily trades with retail broking channels. John Verhoorn, vice-president of professional lines, brokerage, formerly working out of the San Francisco office, will head the professional lines team; and Lana Lee, assistant vice-president of casualty, brokerage, will oversee general casualty products.