Barbara L. Sutherland joined Argo Group U.S. as senior vice president and chief claim officer in April 2008 and in September 2008 was appointed as senior vice president and general counsel. Ms. Sutherland’s extensive range of corporate and insurance legal and regulatory experience most recently included six years with The PMA Insurance Group as its senior vice president, secretary and general counsel. She also has held legal and management positions of increasing responsibility with The Northland Insurance Companies, where she served as vice president, and secretary and general counsel for more than 18 years. Ms. Sutherland is a graduate of Purdue University and received her law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in Illinois. She is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Illinois, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. During her career she has earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), the Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB), the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) and the Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) designations. She has participated in a number of legal and insurance industry associations, including serving as a member of the boards of directors for the Minnesota Guaranty Fund, the Pennsylvania Guaranty Fund, the Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association, and the Council for Litigation Management and the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. Barbara has also been named by Reactions as one of the Top Women in Insurance.