ITEM 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On June 10, 2024, Giles E. Harrison, 55, will become Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (the “Company”). Mr. Harrison served as Chief Financial Officer of Farmers Group, Inc. from 2021 to 2024. He served as Interim Regional Chief Executive Officer Latin American for Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. (“Zurich”) during 2020, as Chief Executive Officer of Regional Markets EMEA for Zurich from 2019 until 2020 and as Head of Group M&A for Zurich from 2015 through 2019.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Harrison and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. There are also no family relationships between Mr. Harrison and any director or executive officer of the Company. He has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Mr. Harrison signed an offer letter dated February 22, 2024 (the “Offer Letter”), which was approved by the Compensation/Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. Mr. Harrison will receive a base salary of $600,000. He is eligible to participate in the Company’s annual and long-term incentive plans. His annual bonus target will be 75% of his base salary. His long-term incentive grant for the 2024-2026 cycle will be 1,000 restricted shares and 1,000 performance shares. Mr. Harrison will also receive a signing bonus of $750,000, payable in three equal annual installments. In the event that Mr. Harrison voluntarily terminates his employment prior to March 15, 2026, he must reimburse the Company for any portion of the signing bonus he has received. In the event the Company terminates Mr. Harrison’s employment, other than for cause, prior to March 15, 2026, Mr. Harrison will be entitled to any unpaid portion of the signing bonus and will continue to vest in any then outstanding long-term incentives. The foregoing description is a summary of the material terms of Mr. Harrison’s employment, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Offer Letter, which is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Liam Caffrey, 52, has been named President of the Company. He will remain Chief Financial Officer.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Caffrey and any other persons pursuant to which he was selected as President and Chief Financial Officer. There are also no family relationships between Mr. Caffrey and any director or executive officer of the Company. He has no direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Caffrey’s compensation will remain unchanged at this time.
Our press release regarding these matters is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
The foregoing discussion contains “forward-looking statements” such as those that state what individuals will do or what roles they will serve in. The Company intends such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cannot promise that its expectations in such forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct because they are subject to factors beyond its control, including competitive labor markets and the conduct of individuals.