Dateline: 04/11/2002
Joins executive team at Zurich North America Manufacturing Services business unit
Schaumburg, IL, November 4, 2002 -- Zurich North America’s Manufacturing Services business unit announced today the appointment of Kathy Woodliff, as line of business (LOB) director - General Liability, a newly created position. Woodliff joins the unit’s other LOB directors -- Gary Kaplan, LOB director-Property; Bob Mathe, LOB director-Auto; and Bob Rheel, LOB director -Workers Compensation -- who report directly to Rob Fishman, CEO of Zurich North America Manufacturing Services.
As LOB director, Woodliff will spearhead an enterprisewide analysis of the general liability segment. Among her new responsibilities, she will create templates for best practices, segmentation and pricing; recommend actions based on detailed data analysis; and work closely with chief product officers to implement best practices.
"The line of business director plays a key role in our ability to achieve superior, sustainable results," said Fishman. "Kathy’s vast industry and management experience will serve her well in this position. She joins a top-notch team of LOB directors who are already working to ensure the delivery of consistent, profitable underwriting strategies that help strengthen our leadership positioning in key markets."
Prior to joining Zurich North America, Woodliff held various senior management positions at CNA Insurance Company, most recently serving as vice president, Corporate Commercial General Liability. She began her insurance career at American States Insurance Company, where she was an underwriter. Woodliff holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A. from the University of Akron.
Established in 2001, the Manufacturing Services unit cultivates the products, services, practices and knowledge that support superior, sustainable financial results for Zurich North America and value for Zurich North America customers. The unit’s enterprisewide focus includes the mining and management of data, knowledge and best practices from all of the market-management business units within Zurich North America. The unit also creates and implements underwriting guidelines and rating models to support the company’s overall financial goals for each line of business. Central to this effort are state-of-the-industry underwriting workstations which are designed and produced by the unit.
Manufacturing Services’ activities are fueled by collaboration and driven by the smartest thinking, tools, platforms and practices of Zurich North America. They expedite and optimize decision-making within the organization, giving the company an enduring competitive advantage.
Zurich North America (www.zurichna.com) is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the multinational, middle market and small business sectors in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., Zurich North America has 11,650 employees and wrote $10.9 billion in premiums in 2001. Zurich North America includes the Zurich U.S. business units (Corporate Customer, Middle Markets, Small Business, Strategic Partnerships, Construction, Specialties, Zurich Global Energy, Surety & Financial Enterprises and Empire Fire and Marine), as well as Universal Underwriters Group and Zurich North America Canada. The Zurich U.S. pool of companies is rated A (excellent) by A.M. Best and A+ (strong) by Standard & Poor's. Zurich North America is a member of the Zurich Financial Services Group.
Zurich Financial Services (www.zurich.com) is an insurance-based financial services provider with an international network that focuses its activities on its key markets of North America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It has offices in approximately 60 countries and employs well over 70,000 people.
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Media contacts:
Janet Walker
Zurich North America
847-605-7604
janet.walker@zurichna.com
Paul Del Colle
Miller DeMartine Group
203-221-2790
pdelcolle@mdgpr.com