Ace Professional Risk Podcast #2: Securities Litigation Liability, with Carol Zacharias

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, is pleased to offer Episode #2 of the "Ace Professional Risk Podcast," an occasional series of audio “podcasts,” or Internet-distributed audio programs, discussing selected risk management topics.

Carol Zacharias Senior Vice President and Counsel ACE Professional Risk

In this podcast, Carol Zacharias, Senior Vice President and Counsel, ACE Professional Risk, discusses her white paper, recently published in The John Liner Review: “Trends in Securities Class Action Litigation and Directors and Officers Liability Insurance,” and provides corporate risk managers with an informative overview of the trend toward unprecedented securities litigation settlements, the factors driving it, and the potential consequences to companies thus affected.

Download the Podcast here. ( 32.8 mb stereo MP3 file, 23:52 duration).


“Securities class actions are the most common type of class actions; since 2002, they are also the most costly and time-consuming to resolve; cases proceeding with a concurrent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation tend to settle for double the price of those without the SEC proceeding,” said Ms. Zacharias.

Staffed by a team of innovative underwriters, ACE Professional Risk is the operating unit within ACE USA, which distributes management liability, professional liability and surety products through retail brokers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ACE Professional Risk and its range of products and services, please visit: www.aceprofessionalrisk.com. The above is only a summary; please see actual policies for terms and conditions.
# # #
ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor’s. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-ina.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world.

Ace Professional Risk Podcast #1: Cyber-Security Risks, with Brad Gow

ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, is pleased to launch the "Ace Professional Risk Podcast," an occasional series of audio "podcasts," or Internet-distributed audio programs, discussing selected risk management topics.

In our inaugural program, Brad Gow, vice president, ACE Professional Risk, discusses data and identity security issues companies face, and ACE's DigiTech cyber-liability insurance protection.

Download the Podcast here. (21.3mb stereo MP3 file, 15:34duration).

Recognizing that businesses of all sizes and across every industry are threatened by an evolving array of privacy exposures and other network risks, ACE USA, the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, has enhanced its digital technology and professional liability insurance offerings. Underwritten through ACE Professional Risk, the newly-launched ACE DigiTech(SM) Digital Technology & Professional Liability Insurance Program offers up to $20 million in limits and provides comprehensive professional liability coverage, state-of-the art network security and privacy protection, and cyber extortion coverage.

Brad Gow Vice President ACE Professional Risk

Brad Gow is a Vice President in ACE USA's Professional Risk division, where he is responsible for technology Errors & Omissions and network risk product management and underwriting operations.

Before rejoining ACE USA in December, 2002 Mr. Gow co-founded NetDiligence, a venture-backed organization providing network security, incident response and forensic computer investigation programs specifically suited to the needs of insurance carriers and brokersactive in the e-risk space. He also developed a full range of network security assessment and general security consulting services for the financial services industry.

Previously, Mr. Gow led the Information Technology Products Group at ACE USA, where he developed cyber property and combined first- and third-party cyber liability insurance programs. Prior to the acquisition of CIGNAs property and casualty insurance operations by ACE Limited in July 1999, Mr. Gow was the Director of the Information Technology Products Group at CIGNA International, overseeing a portfolio of international EDP hardware business and created complementary programs focused on the new exposures created as companies became increasingly dependent on networked systems and electronic commerce. He designed one of the first network risk and ePeril insurance programs to be marketed internationally, CIGNA DataGuard, introduced in 1998.

Mr. Gow also spent eight years working in the Asian insurance markets for CIGNA International and American International Group.

He has authored a number of articles on network risk management and speaks frequently on cyber risk and network security topics. He holds a BA degree from Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York, and a masters degree in International Business Studies from The University of South Carolina.

Staffed by a team of innovative underwriters, ACE Professional Risk is the operating unit within ACE USA, which distributes management liability, professional liability and surety products through retail brokers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information about ACE Professional Risk and its range of products and services, please visit: www.aceprofessionalrisk.com. The above is only a summary; please see actual policies for terms and conditions.

# # #

ACE USA is the U.S.-based retail operating division of the ACE Group of Companies, headed by ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE), and is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and A+ (Strong) by Standard & Poor's. ACE USA, through its underwriting companies, provides insurance products and services throughout the U.S. Additional information on ACE USA and its products and services can be found at www.ace-ina.com. The ACE Group of Companies provides insurance and reinsurance for a diverse group of clients around the world.