American International Group (AIG) has appointed Duncan Ellis to the role of head of retail property, North America general insurance.

Ellis will lead the general insurance unit’s North American retail property business, with a focus on diversifying the company’s property portfolio and implementing underwriting practices in the US, Bermuda, and Canada that are aligned with AIG’s risk appetite, a release said.

He will be based in New York and will report to AIG North America general insurance president, product and field management Ken Riegler.

Ellis will join AIG in late September, having last served as managing director of US property with Marsh. For a decade, he also served as the senior executive for Marsh’s property practice in the US. Ellis began his insurance industry career as a P&C underwriter for The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, later joining Marsh in 1992.

He earned his B.S. from St. Lawrence University and an MBA in corporate finance and international business from NYU’s Stern School of Business.

“Positioning AIG’s North American Retail Property business for sustained profitable growth reflects our commitment to underwriting excellence,” commented AIG president and CEO, North America general insurance David McElroy in a statement.

“I look forward to working with David, Ken and colleagues across North America General Insurance to lead and strengthen AIG’s critically important retail property team and portfolio,” remarked Ellis on his appointment.