Ascot Group Ltd appointed Chris Johnson and Jocelyne Factor to serve as underwriters in its U.S. marine team.

Johnson, a senior vice president, joined the company from Navigators Group Inc., where he was regional vice president for the western region. Factor, who will be a vice president, also joined from Navigators. Both of them will be based in Ascot's new San Francisco office.

The company also named Laura Block a vice president and said she will develop the U.S. marine claims function from New York as the team prepares to start writing business, expected to be in the first quarter of 2019.

Ascot Group is owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.