EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Power of
Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated. By so signing, each of the undersigned, in his or her capacity
as a director or officer, or both, as the case may be, of Executive Risk Inc.
(the "Company"), does hereby appoint LeRoy A. Vander Putten, Robert H. Kullas
and Robert V. Deutsch, and each of them severally, or if more than one acts, a
majority of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys or attorney to execute in
his or her name, place and stead, in his or her capacity as a director or
officer or both, as the case may be, of the Company, the Registration Statement
on Form S-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement and all
instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith, and to file the
same with the Commission. Each of said attorneys shall have full power and
authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the
undersigned, in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or
necessary to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as
each of the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
approving the acts of said attorneys and each of them.

SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------

/s/ LEROY A. VANDER PUTTEN Chairman, Director and Chief April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Executive Officer (Principal
LeRoy A. Vander Putten Executive Officer)
/s/ ROBERT H. KULLAS Vice Chairman, Director and April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Chief Operating Officer
Robert H. Kullas

/s/ STEPHEN J. SILLS President, Director and Chief April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Underwriting Officer
Stephen J. Sills

/s/ GARY G. BENANAV Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Gary G. Benanav

/s/ JOHN G. CROSBY Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
John G. Crosby

/s/ PATRICK A. GERSCHEL Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Patrick A. Gerschel

/s/ PETER GOLDBERG Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Peter Goldberg

/s/ BARBARA G. COHEN Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Barbara G. Cohen

/s/ MICHAEL D. RICE Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Michael D. Rice

/s/ JOSEPH D. SARGENT Director April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------
Joseph D. Sargent
/s/ ROBERT V. DEUTSCH Executive Vice President, Chief April 8, 1997
- ------------------------------------------ Financial Officer and Chief
Robert V. Deutsch Actuary (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)