TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCI Group, Inc. (NYSE:HCI), a holding company primarily engaged in homeowners’ insurance, with additional operations in reinsurance, real estate and information technology, has appointed finance veteran Mark Harmsworth as its senior vice president of finance.

Harmsworth brings 30 years of diversified finance and operational experience to HCI Group, having held multiple executive-level positions over his career with both publicly and privately held companies.

“Mark’s comprehensive experience and effective leadership in the financial services, real estate, and technology industries make him an outstanding fit for HCI’s diverse business enterprises,” said Paresh Patel, HCI Group’s chairman and chief executive officer. “He will be a strong complement to our current finance department as we continue to execute on our company’s long-term strategic and financial goals.”

Harmsworth most recently was president of JMH Consultancy Group, where he served as consulting chief strategy officer for Stewart Information Services, a New York Stock Exchange listed global real estate services company. Harmsworth has served in a range of executive leadership positions throughout his career, including chief financial officer of First American Title Insurance Company, a global specialty insurance company, senior executive vice president of First Canadian Title Insurance Company and executive vice president of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc., a regional sub-franchisor of RE/MAX real estate brokerage services in eastern Canada, the eastern United States and Europe.

Harmsworth holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

About HCI Group, Inc.
HCI Group, Inc. owns subsidiaries engaged in diverse, yet complementary business activities, including homeowners’ insurance, reinsurance, real estate and information technology. The company's largest subsidiary, Homeowners Choice Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Inc., is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in the state of Florida.

The company's common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCI" and are included in the Russell 2000 and S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Its 8% Senior Notes trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCJ." For more information about HCI Group, visit www.hcigroup.com.