UP CLOSE: William McElroy

William McElroy

NEW YORK-BASED GLOBAL HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd.

PREVIOUS POSITION: New York-based senior vice president at Liberty International Underwriters U.S.A.

LOOKING FORWARD TO: Expanding Aspen's global environmental business.

GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Building on Aspen's approach to custom, tailored solutions for the evolving environmental needs of our global customers.

CHALLENGES FACING INDUSTRY: The diverse and ever-changing regulatory standards applicable to environmental matters wherever we do business.

FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I worked as an environmental underwriter for (American International Group Inc.).

WHAT SURPRISED ME: I was surprised that I could be interested in insurance at all.

ADVICE: If you're going to do it, do it right.

OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Wildlife biologist.

HOBBIES: Golf and bird-watching. I don't discuss my handicap, but I can identify a fair number of warbler species.

THING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME: My daughters are dancers at a local studio, and I've frequently appeared as Clara's Uncle Drosselmeyer in the holiday productions of “The Nutcracker.”

WHEN I RETIRE: I will do whatever my wife tells me to do.

FAVORITE MEAL: Spicy grilled shrimp.

FAVORITE BOOK: “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” (by Michael Lewis.) It's a brilliant read for anyone that manages a team professionally or otherwise.

CAN'T-MISS TELEVISION SHOW: I'm a fan of the classic films (such as) “Casablanca” ... Turner Classic Movies would be the closest I get to a favorite television show.

FAVORITE CITY: Other than New York? San Francisco. Sydney (Australia) is my favorite international city.