W. R. Berkley Corporation Appoints Maureen E. Hackett President of Berkley Luxury Group

William J. Johnston Appointed Chairman

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB) today announced the appointment of Maureen E. Hackett as president of Berkley Luxury Group, a Berkley Company. She succeeds William J. Johnston, who has been appointed chairman of Berkley Luxury Group. The appointments are effective immediately.

Ms. Hackett has over 30 years of experience in the property casualty insurance business, with particular expertise in the high net worth market. She most recently served as head of global personal lines for a leading global insurer. Ms. Hackett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Mr. Johnston joined Berkley Luxury Group as president in 2007 and has been instrumental in advancing the operating unit’s leadership position and expansion in the luxury condo, co-op and rental and high-end restaurant markets. He will continue to support Ms. Hackett and the Berkley Luxury Group team throughout the transition. Over time, he will be involved in other Berkley initiatives and activities.

Commenting on the appointment, W. Robert Berkley, Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said, “Bill has been an outstanding leader within our organization whose talents have positioned us as the premier insurer in these selected specialty markets. We are pleased that he will continue to work with the team at Berkley Luxury Group and be involved in other initiatives within our enterprise. Maureen is a proven leader and brings an important perspective to the team, having worked extensively with our insureds’ clients. We are fortunate to have her join us as we continue to build our franchise.”

Berkley Luxury Group offers tailored, all-inclusive insurance solutions for upscale residential condo, co-op and rental properties and fine dining restaurants, through two operating divisions: Berkley Luxury Real Estate Specialists and Berkley Fine Dining Specialists. For additional information about Berkley Luxury Group and the products and services it offers, please visit www.berkleyluxurygroup.com.

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess. For further information about W. R. Berkley Corporation, please visit www.berkley.com.

Products and services are provided by W. R. Berkley Corporation’s subsidiaries and “operating units.” Operating units are not typically legal entities, but for marketing purposes may sometimes be referred to individually as “a Berkley company” or collectively as “Berkley companies.”