Bermuda-based re/insurer Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. has announced the opening of new offices in New York and San Francisco for its new professional lines insurance team

The team will be led by Bruce Eisler, executive vice-president — chief professional lines underwriter.

Mr. Eisler will report to Bill Murray, president of US Insurance for Aspen, with the professional lines team writing business on both an open brokerage and programme basis.

"Profitably growing our US Insurance business is a key priority for Aspen," said Mr. Murray.

"Based on Bruce's strong track record of growth and profitability, as well as his expertise gained over more than 20 years of specialising in professional liability lines, we are well positioned to work closely with the professional liability brokerage community to offer market leading products that address the specific and unique needs of a variety of professional services firms.

"I welcome Bruce and the new team to Aspen and very much look forward to working with them."

Meanwhile Justin Camara has been appointed vice-president, managing lawyers professional liability and accountants professional liability. Mr. Camara has 14 years of experience underwriting these segments and will work from Aspen's San Francisco office.

Robert Cunningham, is the new vice-president, managing architects and engineers professional liability and construction Errors & Omissions (E&O) and will work out of the New York office, as will Ross Goodman, vice-president, managing miscellaneous professional liability, and Ross Herlands, vice-president, managing financial services professional liability including broker-dealer, registered investment advisers, and insurance agents and brokers E&O.

Also based in San Francisco will be Susan Dufresne, assistant vice-president, accountants and lawyers professional liability, and Bryan Nogaki, senior underwriter, accountants and lawyers professional liability.

Judith Olivier, assistant vice-president, miscellaneous professional liability and Douglas Sifert, senior underwriter, lawyers professional liability, complete the New York office line-up.

Lisa Strazza, team lead, underwriting assistants, will be the executive assistant to Mr. Eisler and Mr. Murray and will also manage the team's underwriting assistants

The New York office will be an office of Aspen Specialty Insurance Company and the San Francisco office an office of Aspen Specialty Insurance Solutions LLC. Both are ultimate subsidiaries of Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd.