Zurich North America promotes Leah Rastiello to head of life sciences

Zurich North America announced Thursday it promoted Leah Rastiello to head of life sciences for its U.S. middle-market business.

Ms. Rastiello was assistant vice president and life sciences underwriter for the insurer’s U.S. middle-market business. Zurich North America’s life sciences practice provides various coverages for pharmaceutical, medical technology, research and development and life sciences companies with revenues up to $1 billion, the insurer said in its announcement.

Before working for Zurich North America, Ms. Rastiello was an executive life science underwriter at Markel. She also held underwriting and medical research roles at Chubb Ltd., AmTrust North America and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Ms. Rastiello is replacing Linda Schultz, who is taking a global assignment with Zurich Insurance Group in commercial insurance.

She is based in Boston and will report to Stan Bernard, head of U.S. middle market industry practices.