Pat Van Bakel Appointed Chief Operating Officer, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc.

TORONTO, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pat Van Bakel has been appointed to the position of chief operating officer, Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc., the organization announced today.

Van Bakel has been with the Company for more than 20 years and most recently served as senior vice president, Operations, Insurer Markets. Starting his career as an adjuster, Van Bakel has moved through a number of management and special assignments with increasing responsibilities that have positioned him well to take on this new role. After several years of handling all lines of claims, he became manager of Crawford's Mississauga and Oakville branches in 2001, and moved on to become director of Accident Benefits in 2003.

In 2007, he was named vice president, Claims Operations, which comprises all Crawford claims branches across Canada. In January 2008, he was named senior vice president of this division. In his new role, he is responsible for services supplied to the Canadian property and casualty insurance market, including National Claims Services, Global Technical Services, Global Marine Services, Catastrophe Services, and Contractor Connection Services.

A graduate of Wilfred Laurier University with a bachelor degree in economics, Van Bakel is a member of many industry organizations and currently chairs and serves on several institute committees. He is a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) and has received formal management and leadership training through the Schulich School of Business at York University, Franklin Covey and the Niagara Institute.

"Pat has been an invaluable member of our team for many years, and has shown great leadership skills and a strong dedication to our mission and values," said John Sharoun, chief executive officer of Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. "Crawford will benefit greatly from his contributions to the Company in this new role."

About Crawford
Crawford & Company (Canada) Inc. (www.crawfordandcompany.ca) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Crawford & Company (NYSE: CRDA; CRDB). 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 an expansive global network serving clients in more than 70 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