News Releases

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group, today announced the appointment of Keith Mattheessen as Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer of the ACE Risk Management Energy Underwriting Unit. This new Energy Underwriting Unit within ACE Risk Management will enhance ACE’s existing U.S. energy operations by providing a centralized point of access for specialized insurance coverage and risk management solutions to the energy industry.

Mr. Mattheessen, most recently Senior Vice President and Houston Branch Manager for ACE Risk Management, ACE USA’s primary casualty division, will continue to be based in Houston, and will report to William N. Curcio, President, ACE Risk Management. In addition, Tim Rau, based in Dallas, currently serving as Senior Vice President and Dallas Branch Manager for ACE Risk Management, will expand his responsibilities to now include the Houston Branch.

Within the structure of the new ACE Risk Management Energy Unit, Mr. Mattheessen will have overall underwriting authority for the entire energy book of business, including accounts of all sizes. He also will work collaboratively to provide customers and brokers access to the full spectrum of ACE USA’s energy-related products and services, including excess casualty, construction, directors & officers, specialty lines, foreign casualty, property coverage and related services through Starr Technical Risks Agency, Inc., and a full range of risk control consulting services through ESIS, Inc., ACE Group’s risk management services company.

“Risk managers and brokers need committed partners. ACE is a leader in the energy insurance arena, and the evolving and specialized nature of this industry makes it more practical for buyers of this coverage to synchronize and streamline their insurance,” said Mr. Curcio. “Keith’s proven experience in providing underwriting counsel to the energy market, makes him the perfect choice to lead this key market segment.”

“By providing seamless access to ACE’s broad portfolio of products and services through this specialized underwriting unit, our energy clients will have enhanced access to tailored risk management solutions designed to better meet their unique needs,” said Joseph S. Clabby, President, ACE USA Regional Operations.

With more than 25 years of energy insurance and underwriting management experience, Mr. Mattheessen joined ACE USA in 1999, and has held several senior account management and underwriting leadership roles for ACE Risk Management. Prior to his tenure with ACE USA, Mr. Mattheessen held various senior leadership roles with several global carriers, located in Houston.

Tim Rau brings his more than 20 years of insurance industry experience and background in managing national risk management accounts to his expanded role. He joined ACE USA in 2004, after serving as Branch Manager for CNA’s Risk Management Division in Denver. He also held several senior branch and underwriting management roles for CNA’s Chicago and Dallas offices. He previously held a variety of regional senior casualty underwriting management positions in the national accounts arena for both Transamerica and in the New York and Dallas branches of CIGNA Property & Casualty’s Special Risk Division -- an ACE predecessor organization.

ACE Risk Management offers comprehensive risk management programs and services that are uniquely designed and customized to assist companies in any industry deal with the significant costs of financing and managing risk. To learn more about ACE Risk Management’s products and services, visitwww.aceriskmangement.com.

Organized in 1953, ESIS, Inc. (ESIS) provides sophisticated risk management services designed to help reduce our clients’ total cost of loss. ESIS takes a holistic approach that blends people, process and technology to offer programs that are customized to meet each client’s needs. ESIS is part of ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group. Additional information about ESIS, Inc. and its products and services can be found at www.esis.com.

ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group, whose core operating insurance companies are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting and service 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.aceusa.com. The ACE Group, whose ultimate parent is ACE Limited, provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world. Additional information on ACE Limited (NYSE:ACE) can be found at www.acelimited.com.