W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB) announced with deep sadness the passing of its founder and Executive Chairman, William R. Berkley, today at the age of 80.

Mr. Berkley founded the Company in 1967 and, over the course of nearly six decades, built it into a Fortune 500 company that is one of the world's leading commercial insurance organizations. His vision, discipline, and unwavering commitment to an entrepreneurial culture focused on underwriting excellence and long-term results shaped the Company's success and leaves an enduring imprint on both the Company and the insurance industry. He was a product of the American dream and had a strong desire to instill and support that dream in others.