WQIS is home to some of the nation's most talented and experienced experts in marine pollution insurance. Each member of their carefully chosen leadership team embraces the philosophies outlined in their mission, vision, and code of corporate ethics. It is difficult to find another marine insurance company so passionate about this industry.

Richard H. Hobbie III, President & CEO

Richard Hobbie is the President and CEO of the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate. A graduate of Columbia University and a former U.S. Coast Guard officer he is serving is second term at WQIS where he was the underwriter in the late 1970's.

Mr. Hobbie is also the President of Wall Street Marine, Inc, CEO of Greenfish Software LLC, a Director of American Marine Management Services, Inc. and serves as the President of the Board of Commissioners of Pilots of the State of New York. Richard is also a non-lawyer member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States serving on the Marine Ecology and the Navigation and Coast Guard Committees, Association of Average Adjusters of the United States, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, American Society of Naval Engineers and serves on the Liability Committee of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters.

Mr. Hobbie was an advisor on the U.S. delegation to the International Conference on Liability and Compensation for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of the International Maritime Organization; he has been an instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard OSC Crisis Management School and is currently serves on the Faculty of School of Risk Management, Peter J. Tobin College of Business, St. John's University.

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John H. Ryszetnyk III, Senior Vice President
A graduate of Kings Point, The United States Merchant Marine Academy, John holds a USCG 3rd Mate Unlimited Tonnage License and is a former U.S. Naval Officer. This will be John’s second term at WQIS, having previously served as an Underwriter from 1999 to 2003.

Prior to re-joining WQIS, John served as assistant vice president for CNA. In this role, he managed the Hull and Protection & Indemnity (P&I), Marine Liabilities and Excess Liabilities lines of business, as well as multiple branches across the country. John has also held various Ocean Marine Underwriting positions for Starr Marine Agency, American International Marine Agency, and Liberty International Underwriters.

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John J. Hassett, Chief Financial Officer
John is the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Water Quality Insurance Syndicate and of Wall Street Marine, Inc., a WQIS subsidiary. He has been a leader at WQIS since 1996.

Prior to joining WQIS, John worked as a financial analyst at the Continental Insurance Company and as an accountant at E.F. Hutton and Company. He earned a B.S. in economics at Rutgers University and an MBA at Rider University. John is also a member of the Society of Insurance Financial Management.

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Harry Diamond, Vice President, Claims; Chief Claims Officer
Harry has worked in the marine insurance industry for over 30 years functioning first as a company broker and underwriter and eventually becoming claims manager for a major American flag tanker operator. Since 1997, he has served as Vice President of Claims for WQIS.

Harry is a member of the American Association of Average Adjusters, the Marine Insurance Claims Adjusters, and the Maritime Law Association. He holds an Associate degree in Risk Management and graduated from LaSalle University with BA degrees in Social Studies Education and History.

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Andrew J. Garger, Vice President, Legal & General Counsel
Mr. Garger joined the Water Quality Insurance Syndicate as general counsel in 1997.

His duties include supervising outside litigation counsel, advising WQIS management in all legal areas, including personnel, contracts, and corporate compliance; and overseeing WQIS's legislative efforts.

Prior to joining WQIS, he clerked in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth

Circuit and practiced admiralty law at law firms in Seattle and New York. He is a member of the Maritime Law Association, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, and the former chairman of the Legal and Liability Committee of the International Union of Marine Insurance and current member of the IUMI Political Forum.

Mr. Garger also sailed as a deck officer aboard tankers for several years. He is a graduate of New York University School of Law and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

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John H. Moy, Vice President, Underwriting
John came to WQIS after serving as Regional Underwriter Manager at XL America and Vice President at United States Fire Insurance Company. He adds his extensive marine insurance experience to WQIS along with a high caliber focus on underwriting. John started his career in Naval Architecture before joining the XL America's Underwriting Department and was rapidly promoted through the ranks to management.

John is a 2001 graduate of Kings Point and a former Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve.

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