Bermuda-based insurance holding company, James River Group Holdings Ltd, has appointed James Gunson as senior vice-president and chief claims officer.

The company said Mr Gunson brings to James River more than 25 years of legal experience as well as technical and operational claims expertise in the property and casualty industry.

He joins the company from CNA Financial, where he most recently served as senior vice president of Complex Casualty Claims, with oversight of commercial auto, general liability, construction defect, life science, environmental and mass tort claims.

Prior to CNA, the company said Mr Gunson held various positions of increasing responsibility within both the general counsel and claims departments of the Chubb Corporation, ultimately serving as Chubb’s worldwide casualty claims manager.

Earlier in his career, Mr Gunson was a partner in a law firm with an extensive insurance coverage and defense practice, and also served in a variety of leadership positions in the US Army while based in Germany.

Mr D’Orazio said: “Jim brings a concerted depth of technical and leadership skills that will add immediate value in leading our talented claims organisation. I expect he will be a key member of our leadership team as we continue to invest in our claims and risk management platforms to better serve our partners. I am very excited to have Jim join our team and look forward to working with him.”