Reinsurance News

Consensus around “significant” price movement at Japan renewals: JMP

19th February 2020

Following meetings with insurers, reinsurers and brokers JMP Securities analysts are anticipating significant positive pricing change in Japan’s upcoming April 1 renewals, roughly twice the magnitude seen in 2019. JMP notes that, while pricing changes will vary substantially by both layer of a program and by individual cedant, a surprising amount ... Read the full article

Argo names new CEO, chairman

19th February 2020

Specialty reinsurer Argo has named Kevin Rehnberg as its new Chief Executive Officer following the messy departure of former-boss Mark Watson. The appointment marks the culmination of an ongoing dispute that stretches back to February 2019 when activist investor Voce accused Watson of perpetuating “shockingly high and shockingly inappropriate” corporate ... Read the full article

Chubb appoints Xavier Florit as regional head of corporate, A&H

19th February 2020

Global insurer Chubb has appointed Xavier Florit as regional head of corporate, accident and health for Continental Europe. Florit has been with the company since 2016, having previously served as head of A&H for France. Before that he held several roles within the insurance industry working for both brokers and insurers. He will ... Read the full article

Chubb exploring merger deal for Saudi Arabian division

19th February 2020

Chubb Arabia Cooperative Insurance Company, the Saudi Arabian arm of global re/insurer Chubb, has said that it plans to enter into talks with Al Ahli Takaful Company about the possibility of a merger. If a merger discussion is agreed, both companies will sign a non-binding memorandum of understanding to evaluate a ... Read the full article

Aspen names Swiss Re’s Crystal Ottaviano as Group Chief Risk Officer

19th February 2020

Bermuda domiciled insurer and reinsurer, Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, has appointed Swiss Re's Crystal Ottaviano as its new Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO), effective March 2nd, 2020. In her new role, Ottaviano will report to Mark Cloutier, Executive Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Aspen. She joins the firm from ... Read the full article

Questions remain over Lloyd’s modernisation initiatives, says UK regulator

19th February 2020

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said that “questions remain” about whether the modernisation initiatives at Lloyd’s of London do enough to address underlying issues in the market. The regulator noted that the London Market’s operational expense ratio is 9% higher than similar global re/insurance centres, highlighting an urgent need ... Read the full article

State-backed re/insurers not supportive of lower premiums: ACCC

19th February 2020

A report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s northern Australia Insurance Inquiry claims that government reinsurance pools and government-backed insurers are not well-suited to lowering insurance premiums. "We do not consider government reinsurance pools and government insurers well-suited to addressing affordability concerns in a targeted way,” the ACCC said. "They have ... Read the full article

Swiss Re announces completion of 2019 public share buyback programme

18th February 2020

Global reinsurance giant Swiss Re has announced the completion of the 2019 public share buyback programme of up to CHF 1.0 billion purchase value. The 2019 public share buyback programme was authorised by the Annual General Meeting on April 17th, 2019 and launched on May 6th, 2019. The reinsurer notes that since ... Read the full article

Athene posts improved $432m Q4 net income

18th February 2020

Retirement services firm Athene has posted a $432 million net income for the fourth quarter of 2019, up from a $104 million net loss incurred in the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by higher adjusted operating income, as well as a favorable net change in fixed indexed annuity derivatives ... Read the full article

Prudential discloses $6bn longevity reinsurance deals with Rothesay Life

18th February 2020

Prudential Insurance Company of America (PICA), a business unit of Prudential Financial, Inc., has announced the completion of two previously undisclosed longevity reinsurance transactions with Rothesay Life. The two bulk annuity transactions were completed in the second half of 2019 and amount to $6 billion in new longevity reinsurance business. “2019 was ... Read the full article

Great-West Lifeco announces key leadership changes

18th February 2020

Insurance-centered financial holding company Great-West Lifeco has made a series of leadership changes, including the appointment of Arshil Jamal to the newly-created role of President and Group Head, Strategy, Investments, Reinsurance and Corporate Development. Jamal, who currently serves as President and COO, Europe & Reinsurance, will be focused on identifying and ... Read the full article

Everest Re continues to see opportunity in casualty, says CEO

18th February 2020

Juan Andrade, President and CEO of Everest Re Group, has said that the reinsurer continues to see “good opportunity” in casualty business, despite fears of escalating claims inflation. Speaking as part of an earnings call alongside the release of Everest Re’s 2019 results, Andrade said that the company had provided ... Read the full article

Understory expands parametric hail product in US

18th February 2020

Weather network and analytics firm Understory has launched a supplemental hail insurance product for automotive dealers in five new states. Now live in Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wyoming, Auto – Hail Safe was first launched in 2019 and is designed to allow auto dealers to protect their vehicles from ... Read the full article

Fleming Re names Jim McNichols as Chief Actuarial Officer

18th February 2020

Bermudian reinsurance firm Fleming Re has announced the appointment of Jim McNichols as its new Chief Actuarial Officer. McNichols has previously served as Chief Actuary at XL Capital in Bermuda, and at Greenlight Re in the Cayman Islands. In total, he has more than 30 years of experience in property and casualty ... Read the full article

Liberty Mutual appoints Edward Peña as Treasurer

18th February 2020

The Board of Directors of Liberty Mutual Insurance has announced the appointment of Edward Peña as Senior Vice President and Treasurer. He will take over the role from Laurance H.S. Yahia, who has served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer since 2003, but who will retire on April 3, 2020. Peña joined ... Read the full article