Barbara Funkhouser named Vice President, Group Risk;
James Van Slyke named Assistant Vice President and West Coast Regional Team Leader
PHILADELPHIA – October 12, 2005 – ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, today announced two new appointments in its Public Entity unit. Barbara Funkhouser has been named Vice President, Group Risk, and James Van Slyke has been named Assistant Vice President and Regional Team Leader for the West Coast. The ACE Public Entity unit provides coverages for federal, state, county, township and municipal government, special districts, government agencies and authorities, and the public education sector. The unit specifically targets individual entities and groups that finance a portion of their own risk.
Barbara Funkhouser
Based in Philadelphia, and working through ACE INA Excess and Surplus Insurance Services, Inc. (AESIS), ACE USA’s authorized surplus lines licensee in Pennsylvania, Ms. Funkhouser will manage the development and implementation of strategies for distribution, risk selection, underwriting, and product and service development, with additional responsibility for aligning ACE products and services to public sector group risk clients. Group risk clients include organizations such as pools, trusts, joint power authorities and reciprocals comprised of political subdivisions, agencies, authorities and educational institutions, which share risk.
Ms. Funkhouser has worked for ACE USA and its predecessor companies since 1978 and most recently served as Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for Custom Casualty and Excess Casualty. Previously, she was West Coast Manager for Custom Casualty, and Program Manager for ACE Risk Management. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in applied mathematics from Rutgers University.
“Barbara’s knowledge of ACE complements her exceptional group risk skills and will help her to build the teams necessary to effectively target, evaluate and service these complex risks,” said Rich Vincelette, ACE Public Entity Practice Leader. “Her national experience further enhances her ability to build and lead ACE Public Entity’s Group Risk business. We are very pleased to have Barbara join the practice in this critical role.”
James Van Slyke
Based in San Francisco, Mr. Van Slyke will be responsible for implementing the ACE Public Entity strategy on the West Coast, including the San Francisco and Los Angeles regions, working through ACE INA Excess and Surplus Insurance Services, Inc. (AESIS), ACE USA’s authorized surplus lines licensee in California. He will develop and implement strategies for distribution, manage risk underwriting and assist with product development. He also will work closely with Steve Dennison, ACE USA Northwest Regional Executive, to provide ACE’s full spectrum of products to public sector clients.
“Jim Van Slyke is well known in public sector circles, particularly the west and southwest,” said Steve Dennison. “We are very excited about Jim joining our management team and leading ACE’s public entity operation in the Northwest Region. His experience and knowledge will complete the circle of expertise we need in order to be a serious market for public entity business in the Northwest Region.”
Mr. Van Slyke joined the ACE team in 2004 as a public entity specialist on the West Coast. Prior to this he was with PAUSE Insurance Services LLC, which wrote public entity business on behalf of several insurance companies. Earlier experience includes underwriting roles with AIG and several reinsurers and insurers. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Ferris State University in Michigan.
“Jim Van Slyke brings the leadership, team building skills and sector expertise necessary to build the West Coast public entity practice for ACE. He will be a key player as we strengthen our public entity expertise, resources and capabilities throughout the region,” said Rich Vincelette, ACE Public Entity Practice Leader.
ACE Public Entity is part of ACE Casualty Risk, a division of ACE USA that specializes in lead umbrella and excess liability, custom casualty, public entity, and environmental liability insurance products. ACE Casualty Risk products are distributed through the brokerage community to the commercial market.
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ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-ina.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world.
Not all products may be available in all states. Surplus lines products will be sold only through licensed surplus lines brokers and through ACE INA Excess and Surplus Insurance Services, Inc. (AESIS), representing the surplus lines insurers within ACE USA.
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