---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000011544-26-000016"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WRB"
cik: "0000011544"
company_name: "BERKLEY W R CORP"
filed_at: "2026-06-10T20:15:22+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T20:23:36.322369+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# W.R. Berkley Corp founder and Executive Chairman William R. Berkley dies at 80; son named Chairman

## Summary
- William R. Berkley, founder and Executive Chairman, passed away at age 80.
- Board appointed W. Robert Berkley, Jr. (President and CEO) as Chairman, effective immediately.
- Berkley founded the company in 1967; built it into a Fortune 500 commercial insurer.
- No other leadership changes; succession plan already in place with son as CEO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000011544-26-000016
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WRB
- cik: 0000011544
- company_name: BERKLEY W R CORP
- filed_at: 2026-06-10T20:15:22+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154426000016/0000011544-26-000016-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154426000016/wrb-20260609.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000016
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000016.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000011544-26-000016.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.