Argo Group International Holdings, an underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, has appointed Jay Bullock as its new CFO, effective May 13, 2008.

Mr Bullock will be based in Bermuda and will report directly to Argo Group president and CEO Mark Watson III. He joins Argo Group from Bear Stearns & Co where he was senior managing director and head of Bear Stearns’s Insurance Investment Banking Group.

Mr Watson said: Jay’s experience with all elements of capital structure will be particularly important as we look to most effectively and efficiently deploy our existing resources and position the company for future growth.