Berkley’s Continental Western, FinSecure units get new leaders

W.R. Berkley Corp. has named Michael A. Lex president of Continental Western Group, succeeding Michael G. Connor, who was named president of Berkley FinSecure, effective immediately.

Mr. Lex, who will be based in Des Moines, Iowa, at Continental’s headquarters, was most recently senior vice president of commercial product and pricing for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio, the insurer said Tuesday in a statement. Continental Western is Berkley’s regional property/casualty unit.

Mr. Connor, who will be based in Towson, Maryland, at FinSecure’s headquarters, joined Berkley in 2012 as president of Continental and succeeds Michael Dandini, who left the company recently, according to a spokeswoman for the company. FinSecure is Berkley’s financial institution insurance unit.

Both men will report to executive vice presidents at Berkley’s Greenwich, Connecticut, headquarters, the spokeswoman said.

“We are pleased to welcome Mike Lex to our organization. He brings a wealth of experience in the regional property/casualty insurance market to CWG that will enable us to continue to deliver value and opportunity to our independent agents,” Berkley President and CEO W. Robert Berkley Jr., said in the statement. “Similarly, Mike Connor’s considerable experience and past achievements position him well to lead our efforts at Berkley FinSecure.”