Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG) said Chief Executive Ramani Ayer will retire by December, ending his 12-year stint at the top position in the midst of increasing pressure from shareholders.

As the credit crisis intensified through a tumultuous year, Hartford lost $2.7 billion for writing down the value of mortgage-related assets and corporate debt in 2008.

In October, faced with concerns over the company's capital levels, Ayer accepted a $2.5 billion cash investment from German peer Allianz SE (AZ).

Even then, the downward trend in equity markets continued to drag the Connecticut-based firm along with it. All three key credit ratings agencies downgraded Hartford. To meet rising challenges, Ayer cut jobs, slashed the company's dividend by 84% and appealed for funds under the US Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Last month, Hartford won preliminary approval for $3.4 billion in government bailout along with six other insurers.

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