XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd., yesterday announced the appointment of Kay Smith as senior vice-president, property underwriting manager of XL Insurance (Bermuda) Ltd.'s (XLIB) Property Department. The appointment is effective immediately.

Ms Smith is responsible for managing a team of five and the underwriting activities on XLIB's book of General Property excess business comprising large and complex multi-national companies. With approximately 25 years of industry experience, Ms Smith has taken on progressively senior roles.

Prior to joining XLIB in November 2005 as a vice-president and senior property underwriter she spent six years with Ace USA in Atlanta, Georgia, where she started as a property underwriter and was later promoted to vice-president and regional property underwriting manager. Before that she worked at Cigna's Special Risk Facilities and at FM Global in Atlanta. Commenting on Ms Smith's appointment, XL Insurance chief underwriting officer, International Property, Gerald Kanis said: "This appointment reflects Kay's consistent contributions to the Property team. She has been an asset to the XLIB Property team for the past five years and has embraced changes and taken on more responsibilities with energy, enthusiasm, excellence."

Patrick Tannock, president of XLIB, added: "I have every confidence that Kay's knowledge of the international and Bermuda property markets and proven business acumen will continue to drive our business forward and grow the profitability of our Property portfolio."