Bermuda start-up Iron-Starr Excess Agency Ltd. has hired an American International Group executive with 32 years' experience to be its chief operating officer.

Michael Warwicker has been recruited from his role at Bermuda-based AIG Cat Excess, as COO of International Company Operations and chief underwriting officer, Excess Casualty.

Iron-Starr Excess was set up as a joint venture earlier this year by Bermuda-based insurer Ironshore and Starr Underwriting Agencies, a company owned by former AIG boss Maurice (Hank) Greenberg.

In this new role Mr. Warwicker will lead the operational and underwriting teams as Iron-Starr Excess establishes its presence in Bermuda and expands into other major markets. Mr. Warwicker will be based in Bermuda and reports to Geoff Smith, CEO of Iron-Starr.

Mr. Warwicker started his 32-year insurance career at Lexington Insurance Company in London.

"Mike's extensive knowledge of the excess liability market and proven track record of successfully managing large portfolios of catastrophic excess liability products will be a tremendous asset to the Iron-Starr facility," said Mr. Smith.

Iron-Starr acts as a specialty lines insurance and reinsurance managing general agency.

Their initial focus is the production of excess commercial lines insurance and reinsurance products through US insurers, Bermuda and other offshore carriers, including catastrophic excess casualty for Fortune 2000 and other clients. It will issue policy limits up to $75 million.