SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel Southwest Underwriters, Inc. (MSU) is pleased to announce several changes in its management team in its ongoing efforts to expand its marketing capabilities. Scott Delatorre has been named to the newly created position of vice president-Business Development and Chris Behymer steps in as the new vice president- Marketing. In addition, William Pondrom joins MSU as its new vice president-Casualty. Delatorre comes into the new role with nearly twenty years of experience in various marketing and underwriting roles. For the past four years, he has served as vice president-Marketing at MSU. In his new role, he will focus on special programs, new business development and enhancing producer relationships. For the past six years, Behymer has served as MSU's vice president- Casualty with tremendous success. In his new role, he will utilize the marketing experience he gained at prior insurance companies and as the former education director of AAMGA. Pondrom was most recently underwriting director at Western Heritage Insurance Company. He has over thirty years experience in the excess and surplus lines industry, working for both insurance companies and managing general agents. On the new roles for these individuals, MSU COO Tom Stamm commented, "We believe that these changes will allow MSU to accomplish our goal of enhancing our focus on Marketing. These new investments will allow us to meet our objectives of increased market share, and improve the speed and efficiency of new product and business development. We are pleased to have such experienced and talented individuals dedicated to our marketing and underwriting efforts moving forward." A subsidiary of Markel Corporation, Markel Southwest Underwriters specializes in writing specialty products including Casualty, Property, Forced Placed Property and Inland Marine on both a binding authority and brokerage basis. For more information on our products, please visit http://www.markelsouthwest.com/ Markel Corporation markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs to a variety of niche markets. In each of these markets, the Company seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service in order to be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. For more information on the Markel Group of companies, please visit http://www.markelcorp.com/ DATASOURCE: Markel Southwest Underwriters, Inc. CONTACT: Letha Heaton, +1-847-572-6250, ; Gail Strejc, +1-847-572-6252, Web site: http://www.markelsouthwest.com/ http://www.markelcorp.com/

Copyright