Jan 25, 2012

XL GROUP STRENGTHENS NEW POLITICAL RISK & TRADE CREDIT UNIT WITH NEW INTERNATIONAL TEAM IN LONDON

London, UK - 25, January 2011 - XL Group plc's (NYSE: XL) insurance operations ("XL Group") today announced the expansion of their global Political Risk and Trade Credit (PRTC) team with four new appointments based in London. The new team is headed by Joe Blenkinsopp,reporting into Richard Maxwell in New York, who is XL Group's Chief Underwriting Officer and Global Head for PRTC.

According to Mr Maxwell: "With the current unstable social and economic environment, political unrest is a significant global risk management concern. At XL Group, we have set our sights on being a leading provider of Political Risk & Trade Credit (PRTC) services worldwide. By increasing our global footprint with the arrival of these highly respected individuals, we will be able to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise and continue to build upon our ambition. The PRTC team is a great fit with XL Group's position as a global leader in specialty insurance and we are well positioned to deliver a prehensive package of PRTC products on a truly global basis."

The London based team members include:

Joe Blenkinsopp - Deputy Global Head. Joe has over 25 years experience in PRTC, having held various senior underwriting, broking and management roles, including positions at QBE, Coface, Exporters Insurance Company, Marsh (Sedgwick) and Willis. He earned a degree in Political Science from Boston University in Massachusetts, USA. He is a member of the Lloyd's Market Association's Political Risk, Credit and Financial Contingencies Business Panel and is a frequent speaker and contributor to various industry trade publications and conferences.

Juliette Barre - Senior Underwriter. Juliette joined XL Group in December 2011. She has over eight years experience in PRTC and international banking. She spent six years as an emerging market modity trade finance banker in France with Societe Generale and in London with Standard Bank before joining QBE. She has a master's degree in international finance and economics and a post graduate degree in international relations from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po Paris).

Alice Blake - Underwriter. Alice joined XL Group in September 2011. She has over 5 years experience in PRTC, having spent two and half years at Lloyd's with Marketform's syndicate, prior to which she was with BAE Systems in their Export Finance Department. She has a degree in international business studies with Spanish.

Ian Nunn - Assistant Underwriter. Ian began his career in PRTC having started as a PRTC Underwriting Assistant at QBE in June 2010, with an accountancy background from time spent at BDO Stoy Hayward. He has a degree in geography from Durham University.

XL Group's new PRTC division, which globally now numbers 15 highly experienced individuals, offers customers a full range of Political Risk and Trade Credit insurance products, such as Confiscation, War/ Political Violence, Currency Inconvertibility, Contract Frustration, Non Payment and Unfair Calling. The global team services a wide variety of businesses including financial institutions, modity traders, exporters and manufacturers involved in cross-border sales, lending, trading, and projects mainly in emerging markets, and spanning across a diverse range of industries. The team has a global reach and is able to write business out of the main business centres of New York, London and Singapore.

About XL Group plc

XL Group plc, through its subsidiaries, is a global insurance and reinsurance pany providing property, casualty and specialty products to industrial, mercial and professional firms, insurance panies and other enterprises throughout the world. XL is the pany clients look to for answers to their most plex risks and to help move their world forward. Its principal offices are located at No.1 Hatch Street Upper, 4th Floor, Dublin 2, Ireland. To learn more, visit www.xlgroup.