8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) December 12, 2011

The Navigators Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	0-15886	13-3138397
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6 International Drive, Rye Brook, New York	10573
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (914) 934-8999

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

As reported in its press release dated December 12, 2011, a copy of which is filed with this report as Exhibit 99.1, the Company announced that Ciro M. DeFalco, 56, has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Mr. DeFalco had served as interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company since October 31, 2011. Prior to joining the Company, from 2002, Mr. DeFalco was with White Mountains Reinsurance Group, most recently in the position of Senior Vice President and Group Planning Officer.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press Release dated December 12, 2011 Announcing Promotion of DeFalco to Chief Financial Officer

2

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

THE NAVIGATORS GROUP, INC.
By:	/s/ Bruce J. Byrnes
	Name:	Bruce J. Byrnes
	Title:	Secretary

Date: December 16, 2011

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Exhibit
	99.1	Press Release dated December 12, 2011 Announcing Promotion of DeFalco to Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Navigators Promotes DeFalco to Chief Financial Officer

NEW YORK, December 12, 2011 —The Navigators Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVG) today announced the promotion of Ciro M. DeFalco to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. DeFalco had served as interim Chief Financial Officer since October 31, 2011, following the retirement of Francis W. McDonnell, which had been previously announced by the Company.

Mr. DeFalco, 56, joined the Company in September 2011 and, prior thereto, was Senior Vice President & Group Planning Officer of White Mountains Re Group, the reinsurance subsidiary of White Mountains Insurance Group (NYSE:WTM). Mr. DeFalco has held a variety of senior corporate finance, controllership, and treasury positions in the insurance industry. He is a graduate of Pace University (B.B.A., Accounting) and Columbia University Graduate School of Business (M.B.A., Finance & Management), and is accredited as a Certified Public Accountant.

Stanley A. Galanski, Chief Executive Officer of Navigators, commented, “We are delighted to announce Ciro’s promotion to Chief Financial Officer and have every expectation that he will continue to enhance our culture of integrity, transparency and excellence in all aspects of financial management. He has quickly become an integral member of our executive team and we look forward to his contributions to the growth of shareholder value.”

The Navigators Group, Inc. is an international specialty insurance holding company with insurance company operations, underwriting management companies, and operations at Lloyd’s of London. Headquartered in New York, Navigators has offices in major insurance centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Whenever used in this release, the words “estimate,” “expect,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We cannot assure that results that we anticipate will be achieved, since results may differ materially because of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that we face. Please refer to Navigators’ most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a description of Navigators’ business and the important factors that may affect that business. Navigators undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.

CONTACT

Media Inquires:
Taha Ebrahimi
914-933-6209
tebrahimi@navg.com

www.navg.com