NEW YORK, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Assurant, Inc. ("Assurant")(NYSE: AIZ), a premier provider of specialty insurance andinsurance-related products and services, announced today that ChristopherJ. Pagano, 43, has been promoted to executive vice president and treasurer,effective August 1, 2007. Mr. Pagano will also retain his role as presidentand chief investment officer, Assurant Asset Management. In addition to overseeing Assurant's asset management group, Mr. Paganowill also oversee Assurant's corporate actuarial and treasury functions.These responsibilities were previously held by Miles B. Yakre, who hasaccepted an opportunity to join Assurant Employee Benefits as senior vicepresident and chief actuary effective August 1, 2007. "Chris is a highly talented and experienced investment managementexecutive and we are very pleased to announce this promotion," said J.Kerry Clayton, Assurant's interim president and chief executive officer."Under Chris' leadership, our asset management team has constructed adiversified asset portfolio that supports the long-term growth objectivesof Assurant and its businesses. He brings more than 22 years of experiencein financial markets, including 11 years here at Assurant, to the treasurerrole. We look forward to his continued contributions as he takes on theseadded responsibilities." Miles B. Yakre, 38, was previously senior vice president, corporateactuary and treasurer, for Assurant. In his new role, Mr. Yakre willoversee the pricing and financial actuarial activities for AssurantEmployee Benefits. He will also retain responsibility for managing all ofAssurant's rating agency relationships. "We are very pleased to welcome Miles to Assurant Employee Benefits,"said John S. Roberts, Assurant Employee Benefits' interim president andchief executive officer. "He's been with Assurant for more than 15 yearsand brings with him great depth in experience relating to actuarial mattersat both the business segment and corporate levels to this open position.His appointment reflects the depth and breadth of leadership talent acrossour organization and we look forward to his contributions." Chris Pagano has been president and chief investment officer, AssurantAsset Management since January of 2005. He previously served as executivevice president and head of fixed income, Assurant Asset Management. Mr.Pagano joined Assurant in March 1996. Prior to joining Assurant, he servedas vice president at Merrill Lynch, where his latest role was as thegovernment strategist in global fixed income research. He began his careerat Morgan Stanley in 1985. Mr. Pagano received a bachelor of science ineconomics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in1985. He earned his master of business administration in 1995 from theUniversity of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. Mr. Pagano is aChartered Financial Analyst. Miles Yakre began his actuarial career in 1990 as an actuarialassistant at the Equitable. He then joined Assurant Health's John AldenLife Insurance Company as an associate actuary in 1991. He served inseveral positions within the John Alden organization including vicepresident and corporate actuary. Miles joined Assurant in New York in April1999. Mr. Yakre earned a bachelor of science in economics from the WhartonSchool at the University of Pennsylvania in 1990. He is a Fellow of theSociety of Actuaries (FSA), Fellow of the Life Management Institute (FLMI),and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Assurant is a premier provider of specialized insurance products andrelated services in North America and selected international markets. Itsfour key businesses-Assurant Employee Benefits, Assurant Health, AssurantSolutions and Assurant Specialty Property-have partnered with clients whoare leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in anumber of specialty insurance market segments worldwide. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company, is traded on the New York StockExchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has more than $20 billion in assetsand $7 billion in annual revenue. The Assurant Web site ishttp://www.assurant.com.
