Specialty insurer Ironshore Inc. has announced two more expansion efforts as it continues to diversify its global business profile and product lines.

The Bermuda-based company said it is expanding its Lloyd's platform to serve specialty insurance lines markets in Canada, subject to approval. Specialty coverages are underwritten at Lloyd's through Ironshore's Pembroke Syndicate 4000.

Ironshore also said it is entering the aviation-risk niche market through a partnership between its subsidiary, Ironshore Specialty, and Atlanta-based Starr Aviation, an affiliate of privately held C.V. Starr & Co. Ironshore said Starr will underwrite worldwide aviation risk for Ironshore including airlines, manufacturers, airports, aviation refuelers, fixed-base operations, corporate aircraft and general aviation clients.

Michael C. Wills, most recently president of Catlin Group Ltd.'s Canada subsidiary, has been named the new chief executive officer of Ironshore Canada Ltd.

Ironshore said the new unit will be based in Toronto, and would expand throughout the country in response to the needs of its distributors.

Mark Wheeler, chairman of Ironshore Canada, said in a statement that Ironshore's move into Canada "is a logical next step as we implement our growth strategy." Wheeler cited Canada's stable economic climate.

Gerald E. Frick will head Ironshore's specialty aviation sector, Ironshore said. Frick recently retired as global leader of the aviation practice for Marsh Inc., a post he held for 10 years.

In a statement announcing the partnership, Ironshore CEO Kevin Kelley said, "Aviation is a niche specialty market that Ironshore has been targeting. Our joining with Starr Aviation provides an optimal avenue for Ironshore to expand its global platform."

Attempts to reach Ironshore for additional comment were not immediately successful.

Earlier this year, Ironshore and Starr agreed to form a joint venture, Iron-Starr Excess Agency Ltd., to focus on producing excess financial and commercial lines insurance and reinsurance products, and catastrophic excess casualty insurance products, through U.S. insurers and Bermuda or other offshore carriers (BestWire, Jan. 27, 2009).

C.V. Starr is headed by Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, one-time chairman of American International Group who was forced out several years ago. Last December, Kevin Kelley and Shaun Kelly -- two former top executives at AIG's excess-and-surplus lines carrier, Lexington Insurance Co. -- moved to Ironshore. Kelley became Ironshore's CEO and Kelly became chief executive of U.S. operations.

Ironshore Specialty is an excess and surplus lines writer focusing on contractor, artisan, hospital, long-term care professional liability, property and specialty casualty.

Members of the Ironshore Insurance Group currently have Best's Financial Strength Ratings of A- (Excellent).

(Dennis Gorski, Best's Review managing editor)