Western World Insurance Group, Inc. (“Western World”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Validus Holdings, Ltd., today announced the appointment of Arya Yarpezeshkan as Senior Vice President, Director of Risk Management, effective October 3, 2016. Arya brings to Western World two decades of career experience, having dedicated the last 12 years to integrated risk management and strategic planning.

In his new role, Arya will be responsible for overseeing a small team of risk management analysts and building a comprehensive risk management framework for several enterprise functions. Arya’s team will be based in the U.S. and will help Western World expand its product scope, working to make new products and services available to its clients. He will report to Western World Chief Operating Officer Thad DeBerry.

“We are delighted to welcome Arya to our Western World team,” said Bob Livingston, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western World. “Having focused on risk management for the past 12 years, Arya has extensive knowledge and expertise that is essential to growing our business. I look forward to working with him on opportunities within our organization and our client offerings.”

Prior to joining Western World, Arya served as the Chief Risk Officer at Navigators, where he led the global Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program. Before joining Navigators in 2013, he was Chief Risk Officer and Vice President of Strategic Planning for Tokio Marine Management in the U.S. Arya’s experience in enterprise risk management developed from his role at MasterCard, where he served as Business Leader of the ERM division.

Arya holds a Master’s degree in Banking from Mercy College and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from San Diego State University.

About Western World Insurance Group, Inc.

Western World Insurance Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a specialty U.S. commercial insurer, offering insurance products on a surplus lines and admitted basis. Western World’s three operating companies are domiciled in New Hampshire and are headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.

About Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Validus Holdings, Ltd. (“Validus”) is a holding company for reinsurance and insurance operating companies and investment advisors including Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”), Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”), Western World Insurance Group, Inc. (“Western World”) and AlphaCat Managers, Ltd. (“AlphaCat”). Validus Re is a Bermuda based reinsurer focused on treaty reinsurance. Talbot is the Bermuda parent of the specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd's insurance market through Syndicate 1183. Western World is a U.S. specialty lines insurance company focused on excess and surplus lines. AlphaCat is a Bermuda based investment adviser managing capital for third parties and Validus in insurance linked securities and other property catastrophe reinsurance investments.