XL Insurance has announced the appointment of Michael Garceau as chief operating officer (COO) of its North America property and casualty (P&C) unit.

He will join the company on November 8, 2010, reporting to Seraina Maag, XL Insurance's chief executive of the North America P&C unit and be based in New York.

In this new position, Mr. Garceau will manage the operational functions supporting XL Insurance's North America P&C business, including property, excess and surplus, environmental, excess casualty, international casualty, US risk management, upper middle markets, North America programmes as well as XL GAPS, its loss prevention consulting group.

Ms Maag said: "By centrally co-ordinating our efforts under the direction of this new COO position, we plan to maximise the use of resources and streamline our processes."