Crawford Opens Office in Panama, Names Miguel Stempel Country Manager

USA - English

• Latin America - español

ATLANTA, March 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To serve a growing insurance market, Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA; CRDB) has established an office in Panama City, Panama, and named insurance executive Miguel Stempel as its manager of operations in the country.

Stempel will be responsible for Crawford's claim operations in Panama. He will handle property, casualty and marine and transportation losses; coordinate large claims with Crawford Global Technical Services(SM), the Company's adjusting unit for complex, high-end losses; and develop new business for Crawford, the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions.

"The Panamanian insurance market is expected to show significant growth in 2011 and beyond," said Mauricio Alonso, senior vice president of Crawford & Company and regional managing director, Latin America. "Our new location in Panama City and Miguel's skills and expertise will help us more effectively serve insurers in the country and continue to develop our business there."

Stempel has a wide variety of experience in the insurance industry, serving as general adjuster, claims manager, project manager and marine and transport surveyor for both insurers and independent claims management companies during his 18-year career. He has managed a wide variety of property and casualty claims for local and regional underwriters and also is an experienced catastrophe adjuster.

Stempel received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Stockton College in New Jersey. He is fluent in English and Spanish and holds a translator license. Active in continuing insurance education, Stempel has organized and moderated numerous training sessions on such topics as business interruption and loss prevention for marine and transport.

About Crawford

Based in Atlanta, Ga., Crawford & Company (www.crawfordandcompany.com) is the world's largest independent provider of claims management solutions to the risk management and insurance industry as well as self-insured entities, with a global network of more than 700 locations in 63 countries. The Crawford System of Claims Solutions(SM) offers comprehensive, integrated claims services, business process outsourcing and consulting services for major product lines including property and casualty claims management, workers compensation claims and medical management, and legal settlement administration. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbols CRDA and CRDB.

SOURCE Crawford & Company