W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB) today announced that Gregory A. Douglas, president of Berkley Re Direct, will undertake the additional responsibility of president of Berkley Program Specialists. The appointment is effective immediately.

Mr. Douglas joined W. R. Berkley Corporation as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Berkley Re Direct in 2010. He was appointed president of the operating unit in 2013 and will remain in this role in addition to his new responsibilities at Berkley Program Specialists. Prior to joining W. R. Berkley Corporation, Mr. Douglas held various senior positions with leading property and casualty insurers and global reinsurers. He graduated with a B.A. from Iowa State University and has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry with significant specialty experience.

W. Robert Berkley, Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said: "Greg is an outstanding industry leader with expertise in developing strong client relationships by delivering value-added services – elements that are critical to success in the program business. He has worked closely with Berkley Program Specialists for many years. While these two operating units will remain independent, they will both benefit from his expertise and leadership."

Based in Naperville, IL, Berkley Program Specialists is a program management company offering both admitted and non-admitted insurance support on a nationwide basis for commercial casualty and inland marine program administrators with specialized insurance expertise. For further information about the products and services available from Berkley Program Specialists, please visit www.berkley-ps.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 business: Insurance and Reinsurance.