David Bell has been appointed chief operating officer of Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Ltd.

Mr. Bell, who will handle the company's global day-to-day operating activities, was one of several executive-level appointments announced by the company this week.

John Bender has been named president of Allied World Reinsurance Company, the company's US reinsurance subsidiary.

Bobby Bowden, executive vice-president, US Business Development and Marketing, will assume additional management responsibility for Allied World's US branch network.

Joan Dillard has been named executive vice-president and Allied's chief financial officer.

Ms Dillard will continue to head the company's Finance Department globally and be responsible for overseeing the company's investment portfolios.

Wesley Dupont has been promoted to Allied's executive vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Mr. Dupont will continue to head the company's Legal and Compliance Department globally and manage the company's legal, compliance, corporate secretarial and governmental affairs.

Frank D'Orazio has been named president of Allied's Bermuda and International Insurance. Mr. D'Orazio will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and executing business strategies for the Bermuda and European insurance platforms.

Marshall Grossack has been named Allied's executive vice-president and chief actuary. He will oversee all corporate reserving and global pricing actuarial functions.

Thomas McKevitt has been named executive vice-president, Bermuda Reinsurance. Mr. McKevitt will continue to oversee the underwriting of the property-catastrophe pro-rata and per-risk reinsurance portfolios.

Jack Sennott has been named Allied's executive vice-president and chief corporate strategy officer. Mr. Sennott will be responsible for strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and rating agency relationships.

Barry Zurbuchen has been named Allied's senior vice-president, modelling and corporate pricing. Mr. Zurbuchen will continue to be responsible for the company's reinsurance, insurance and enterprise risk modelling activities and will be a central resource for all pricing models.

All promotions are effective immediately, except for Bermuda-based positions that are pending approval from the Bermuda Department of Immigration.