PHILADELPHIA - March 4, 2004 - ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operations of the ACE Group of Companies (NYSE: ACE), today announced the appointment of Mark Benson as Senior Vice President, Workers Compensation for ACE Casualty Risk. Based in Wilmington, Del., Mr. Benson will serve as the senior underwriting officer of workers compensation insurance for ACE Casualty Risk. He will be responsible for managing the underwriting strategies for ACE USA's web workers compensation and middle market workers compensation businesses, including ACE CompleteSM, a web-based underwriting facility that enables contracted brokers to conduct underwriting transactions -- from entry to issuance -- via the Internet.
"With the launch of ACE Complete last year, ACE USA set the standard for effectively and efficiently underwriting workers compensation programs for the small to mid-sized employers," said Geoff Gregory, President, ACE Casualty Risk. "Mark's demonstrated leadership and extensive experience in developing underwriting strategies for automated workers compensation processes will help us build on the success of ACE Complete and ensure a consistent underwriting approach and delivery across our underwriting units. He will also lead our entry into workers compensation for middle market risk."
Mr. Benson previously served as Director of Workers Compensation for SAFECO Insurance Group in Seattle, Wash., responsible for developing and implementing risk selection and pricing strategy for small and middle market businesses, including online distribution. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Benson served as Executive Vice President and Founder of CyberComp, a fully automated workers compensation delivery system affiliated with Reliance National Insurance. Other previous positions include serving as a consultant for Kemper Employers Group, President of Specialty Workers Compensation for AIG's American Home Insurance Company and Vice President of Underwriting for Transamerica/TIG Insurance.
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ACE USA is a U.S.-based operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE). 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.