Our board of directors has established an executive committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors has also established an audit committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors.
= Chairman of the Board
= Chair = Member
= Independent Director
Barry D. Zyskind, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of the Company has held senior management positions since 1998. Prior to joining AmTrust, Mr. Zyskind was an investment banker at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in New York. Mr. Zyskind received an M.B.A. from New York University's Stern School of Business in 1997.
Michael Karfunkel, Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1998, has been associated with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company since 1971, where he is Chairman of the Board and President.
George Karfunkel, Director since 1998, has been associated with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company since 1971, where he is Senior Vice President and a Director. Mr. Karfunkel serves as co-chairman of the board of AFG and as vice chairman of The Upstate Bank.
Donald T. DeCarlo, Director since 2005, is a sole practitioner attorney. From 1996 to 2004, Mr. DeCarlo practiced in the New York offices of Lord, Bissell & Brook, LLP, where he was managing partner prior to his departure. Mr. DeCarlo has been a commissioner of the New York State Insurance Fund since 1997. He is also a director of Atrium Insurance Corporation (an insurer that primarily underwrites financial guaranty insurance), Jackson National Life Insurance Co. of New York, and Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company (an insurer that primarily underwrites large property coverages). From 1994 to 1996, Mr. DeCarlo was senior vice president and general counsel of all of the Travelers Group's insurance companies. From 1973 to 1986, Mr. DeCarlo was vice president and general counsel of NCCI. Mr. DeCarlo received a B.A. from Iona College in 1960 and a J.D. from St. John's University School of Law in 1969.
Abraham Gulkowitz, Director since 2005, is the senior managing principal of Brookville Capital, a hedge fund specializing in credit analysis. Mr. Gulkowitz has worked at Brookville Capital since 2002. From 1978 to 2002 Mr. Gulkowitz served as a Senior Managing Director and a member of the partners management group at Bankers Trust/Deutsche Bank. His responsibilities included the analysis of economic and business issues related to leveraged financing transactions as well as mergers and acquisitions, private equity and real estate investments. Mr. Gulkowitz joined Bankers Trust in 1978 from Chase Manhattan Bank where he was responsible for financial market analysis. Previously, he was an economics research assistant to Alan Greenspan. Mr. Gulkowitz received his M.B.A. from New York University, where he also did post-graduate work in economics.
Jay J. Miller, Director, joined the Company in 1998 and served as its secretary (without compensation) from 1998 to 2005. Mr. Miller is chairman of the board of Gulf USA Corporation and AmTrust Pacific Limited. He is also a director of Colvista Communications Inc., American Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Integrated Business Systems, Inc. Mr. Miller received an A.B. from Syracuse University in 1952 and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1955.
Audit Committee
The audit committee assists our board of directors in its oversight of:
the integrity of our financial statements;
the independent auditor's qualifications and independence; and
the performance of our independent auditors.
The audit committee also has direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of our independent auditors, BDO Seidman, LLP. In addition, approval of the audit committee is required prior to our entering into any related-party transaction.
The members of our audit committee are Mr. Gulkowitz, who is also the chairman of the committee, Mr. DeCarlo and Mr. Miller. Mr. Gulkowitz is our audit committee financial expert.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee reviews and determines, together with the other directors if directed by the board of directors, the compensation of our executive officers and reviews and approves employment and severance agreements with our executive officers. The compensation committee also administers the issuance of stock options and other awards under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and establishes and reviews policies relating to the compensation and benefits of our employees and consultants.
The members of the compensation committee are Mr. DeCarlo, who is also the chairman of the committee, Mr. Miller and Michael Karfunkel. Michael Karfunkel will not participate in any matters relating to Mr. Zyskind's compensation.
Executive Committee
The executive committee's responsibilities include:
exercising the authority of the board of directors with respect to matters requiring action between meetings of the board of directors; and
deciding issues from time to time delegated by the board of directors.
The members of our executive committee are Mr. Zyskind, who is also the chairman of the committee, George Karfunkel and Michael Karfunkel.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee:
identifies and nominates members of the board of directors;
develops and recommends to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to us; and
oversees the evaluation of the board of directors and management.
The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Mr. Miller, who is also the chairman of the committee, and Mr. Gulkowitz and Michael Karfunkel.
= Chairman of the Board
= Chair 
= Member
= Independent Director
