Validus Specialty Underwriting Services Inc. has recruited Bob Eells from XL Group to be senior vice president and chief operating officer of Validus Specialty, Western World Insurance Group and Crop Risk Services, the insurer said in a statement Thursday.
He will be based in Parsippany, New Jersey, report to Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Ritz and be a member of the organization’s leadership team, the statement said.
Mr. Eells will be responsible for leading operations and business, the statement said. He was most recently vice president, business solutions and innovation, for XL Group, which does business as XL Catlin.
“We’re focused on becoming a leader in each of our markets and enhancing our operations, and Bob will help us achieve this goal,” Mr. Ritz said in the statement.
American International Group Inc.’s proposed purchase of Validus Holdings Ltd. for $5.56 billion will bring the U.S. insurer a reinsurance business, a Lloyd’s of London platform and a strong foothold in the third-party capital sector.