Bermudians Mark Berry and Paul Simons have been appointed to senior roles at XL Re, the Bermuda-based reinsurance operations of XL Group.Mr Berry becomes senior vice-president and managing director, International Property & Specialty, while Mr Simons has been appointed as senior vice-president, head of US Property Treaty.As head of the International Property & Specialty Division for Bermuda-based XL Re Ltd, Mr Berry is responsible for leading the underwriting and strategic development of the UK, Japan, Australia/New Zealand Property Treaty, Lloyd’s Trade Capital and Specialty lines portfolios.Prior to returning to Bermuda this year, Mr Berry spent six years in the UK as general manager of XL’s Reinsurance London Branch. He was responsible for a team who underwrite a worldwide portfolio of Marine, Aviation, International Casualty Treaty and Property Facultative business.Mr Berry is a former Board member of the International Underwriting Association, London, the London Market Group and the Non Bureau Working Group in London.Locally, he has served as president of the Bermuda Insurance Institute Council, president of the Bermuda Independent Underwriters Association, and treasurer of the Bermuda Chapter of the CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) Society.Mr Simons, who is now responsible for the underwriting and strategic direction of all US and Caribbean Property business, has held progressively senior underwriting roles since joining XL via Mid Ocean Reinsurance Company in 1993. He has also been active in many local education initiatives, including serving as immediate past president and chairman of the board of trustees of the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies.Together Mr Berry and Mr Simons have some 50 years of industry experience, including close to 40 years with XL.XL also announced that Tristan Abend has joined its Bermuda reinsurance operations as vice-president, International Property Treaty Underwriter. Mr Abend, who reports to Mr Berry, was formerly a senior underwriter with Flagstone Reinsurance Ltd, where he held various underwriting positions from 2005. Prior to that, he was an underwriter with Ace Tempest Reinsurance Ltd.Commenting on the appointments, president and chief underwriting officer of XL Re Ltd, Charles Cooper, said: “These appointments clearly demonstrate XL’s ability to retain and attract some of the best talent in the industry.“Both Mark and Paul are well respected industry professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience that benefits XL and the markets we serve. Having Tristan join us is an added bonus in strengthening our local underwriting team.”