NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XL Insurance, the global insurance operations of XL Capital Ltd (NYSE: XL), today announced the expansion of its US Aviation operations with four new appointments to its New York-based underwriting team.

Eric Donofrio, US Regional Manager for XL Insurance's Aviation unit, welcomed the appointments of three Class Underwriters -- Armand Ferranti, Jr., Eileen Mitchell and Charles Koehler, and business analyst Isabel Marin.

'Our team's technical underwriting skill and industry knowledge is the foundation of our success in today's competitive aviation insurance market,' said Mr. Donofrio. 'We're building on that base with the addition of seasoned professionals like Armand, Isabel, Chuck and Eileen whose experience continues to add strength to our in-house underwriting capabilities.'

'With our experienced aviation underwriting and claims staff located in New York, London, Toronto, and Munich, we are able to provide our brokers and clients direct access to our expertise,' Mr. Donofrio said, noting that XL Insurance's global Aerospace operations provide a broad spectrum of aviation coverage for clients around the world. 'We anticipate that the team will continue to grow in 2009 and 2010,' he added.

Mr. Ferranti joins XL Insurance from Global Aerospace where he worked as a general aviation underwriter. A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he is a licensed commercial pilot. Mr. Ferranti also holds an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic certificate.

Ms. Mitchell brings aviation brokerage experience having worked most recently for Integro as well as Marsh. She has also worked with law firm Mendes & Mount as a paralegal working in aviation litigation management. Ms. Mitchell is a graduate of Marist College.

Mr. Koehler joins XL Insurance from William Gallagher Associates where he worked as an aviation broker. He brings previous experience as a general aviation underwriter having worked with Global Aerospace. A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he is a licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instructor.

Ms. Marin joins XL Insurance with more than a decade of aviation industry experience including her most recent position with FWS Aerospace, an aerospace consulting firm. She is a graduate of Dowling College in Oakdale, New York.

'XL Insurance' is the global brand used by member insurers of the XL Capital Ltd (NYSE: XL) group of companies. More information about XL Insurance is available at http://www.xlinsurance.com/aviation. Through its operating subsidiaries, XL Capital Ltd is a leading provider of global insurance and reinsurance coverage and services to industrial, commercial and professional service firms, insurance companies, and other enterprises on a worldwide basis. More information about XL Capital Ltd is available at www.xlcapital.com.

SOURCE XL Insurance