NEW YORK Standard & Poors has reorganized its U.S. Insurance Ratings group, which evaluates the financial strength of insurance companies.
The company has formed a new high-focus unit that will concentrate on the special needs of its most complex insurer customers. This unit, headed by Jay Dhru, will comprise Standard & Poors most experienced insurance analysts, who will follow organizations such as AIG, Hartford, ACE, and John Hancock. Mr. Dhru continues to head Standard & Poors insurance capital markets unit.
The reorganization also created a segment analytic unit that will develop Standard & Poors analyses for markets such as reinsurance, health care, workers compensation, and annuities. Don Watson, formerly head of Standard & Poors reinsurance analysis team, will head the segment analytic unit, which will be responsible for about 125 insurance companies in the middle market.
A newly formed research unit, led by Bob Partridge, formerly head of the property-casualty analysis team, will analyze other midsize and smaller insurers, as well as HMOs and health plans.
The insurance group will continue to be part of Standard & Poors Financial Services business unit.
