Executive Change

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): November 8, 2019 Commission File Number 1-15202       W. R. BERKLEY CORP ORATION      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware   22-1867895 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)       475 Steamboat Road Greenwich Connecticut 06830 (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code) (203) 629-3000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)   None   Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report . 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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below): ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Title of Each Class   Trading Symbol   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Common Stock, par value $.20 per share   WRB   New York Stock Exchange 5.625% Subordinated Debentures due 2053   WRB B   New York Stock Exchange 5.9% Subordinated Debentures due 2056   WRB C   New York Stock Exchange 5.75% Subordinated Debentures due 2056   WRB D   New York Stock Exchange 5.70% Subordinated Debentures due 2058   WRB E   New York Stock Exchange W. R. Berkley Corporation           2 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).    Emerging growth company      ☐      If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.      ☐      W. R. Berkley Corporation           3 Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers. Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the “Company”) relating to the announcement of the November 8, 2019 election of Jonathan Talisman to its board of directors, increasing the number of board members to eleven and increasing the number of independent directors to nine. Mr. Talisman has been named to each of the Company’s Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The press release was issued on November 8, 2019. A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated November 8, 2019 W. R. Berkley Corporation           4 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. W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION By:  /s/ Richard M. Baio   Name: Richard M. Baio   Title: Executive Vice President     Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer          Date: November 13, 2019 W. R. Berkley Corporation           5 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit : 99.1 Press Release dated November 8, 2019