White Mountains names leader

HAMILTON, Bermuda--Raymond Barrette has been named chairman and chief executive officer of White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd., the insurer and reinsurer announced Monday.

The appointment is effective immediately. In his dual role, Mr. Barrette succeeds Steven E. Fass as CEO of White Mountains and industry veteran Jack Byrne as chairman of the board.

Mr. Fass "elected to retire from active management," but will continue as an adviser and member of the company's board of directors, Hamilton, Bermuda-based White Mountains said in a statement.

Mr. Byrne, who most recently served as chairman of White Mountains, previously led Fireman's Fund Corp. in the 1980s and GEICO Corp. in the 1970s.