Reinsurance News
Willis Re
Willis Re is a global reinsurance broker launched as a joint-venture between private equity firm Bain Capital (BCIS) and WTW. The company aims to serve its client-base with reinsurance risk transfer solutions backed by industry expertise, advanced analytics, and a global network.
1:1 Renewal season to see a tightening marketplace: Willis Re
11th November 2020
Willis Re recently held a webinar in which Paddy Jago, Global Chair of Willis Re and Tony Melia, Chief Executive Officer of Willis Re International discussed the upcoming January renewal season and how things in the reinsurance market may develop. Jago commented: “We will experience further gradual firming from where we ... Read the full article
Willis Re completes $100mn ILS deal for Minnesota Life
27th October 2020
In collaboration with Willis Re, Willis Re Securities says it has structured and placed $100 million of insurance-linked securities (ILS) for Minnesota Life, a life insurance subsidiary of Securian Financial Group. With this deal, Minnesota Life will be the first US direct writer of life insurance to utilise an extreme mortality ... Read the full article
“Reinsurance is in a state of flux”: Willis Re’s James Vickers
23rd October 2020
On the back of several years of unsatisfactory returns and the added challenges of COVID-19, Willis Re’s James Vickers has said that the reinsurance market finds itself “in a state of flux.” Vickers, who is Chair of Willis Re International, recently spoke to Reinsurance News about the state of the reinsurance ... Read the full article
COVID-19 tail unclear, but we’ve much further to travel in casualty: Willis Re
16th October 2020
While insurers and reinsurers looked to book much of their pandemic losses in the second-quarter, the potential for casualty lines development could persist for years and be very significant, according to executives at reinsurance broker Willis Re. It's likely to be years before we understand the full impact of the ongoing ... Read the full article
No significant capital rush amid investor trepidation: Willis Re execs
12th October 2020
While it's likely that more fresh capital will look to enter the re/insurance market in light of improving market conditions, investor trepidation remains amid continued financial market uncertainty and volatility, according to executives at Willis Re, the reinsurance broking of Willis Towers Watson (WTW). "We simply don't see capital rushing in," ... Read the full article
Reinsurers must go “back to basics”: Willis Re’s James Vickers
25th September 2020
James Vickers, Chair of Willis Re International, has said that reinsurers must respond to the myriad challenges in the current market by going “back to basics” and focusing on combined ratios. Speaking in an interview with Reinsurance News, Vickers discussed the findings of a recent Willis Re report, which concluded ... Read the full article
Willis Re unveils new Indonesia Flood model
24th September 2020
Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of global brokerage Willis Towers Watson (WTW), has launched a new fully probabilistic Indonesia Flood model, developed in collaboration with the Willis Research Network (WRN) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI). Willis Re's new Indonesia Flood model provides a comprehensive ... Read the full article
Reinsurance capital declined just 3% over H1: Willis Re
9th September 2020
Willis Re, the reinsurance broking arm of Willis Towers Watson (WTW), has reported that total capital dedicated to the global reinsurance industry was $587 billion at June 30th, 2020, reflecting a decline of just 3% when compared with year-end 2019. The latest Reinsurance Market Report from Willis Re found that industry ... Read the full article
Re/insurers looking for “less risky” insurtech investments: Willis Re’s Andrew Johnston
8th September 2020
Re/insurers are looking for insurtech investment opportunities that represent less of a ‘risk’, in that they have a proven track record and are more likely to be successful. In a recent conversation between Reinsurance News and Dr Andrew Johnston, global head of insurtech at Willis Re, it was explained how it ... Read the full article
Former Willis Re EVP Grant Owens joins Openly in lead role
14th August 2020
Premium homeowners insurance platform Openly, has added Grant Owens as Chief Product & Underwriting Officer. Most recently an executive vice president at Willis Re, Owens will lead Openly's product team and spearhead product development as the company looks to drive growth and expand nationwide. Openly aims to simplify the homeowner's insurance process ... Read the full article
Aon sees Willis Re as complementary, divestiture unnecessary: Execs
31st July 2020
Aon's senior leadership, including CEO Greg Case, explained today during a quarterly earnings call that the company isn't expecting to need to divest significantly, as it combines with Willis Towers Watson (WTW) when the acquisition is realised. Case, the Chief Executive Officer of insurance and reinsurance broker powerhouse Aon, said before ... Read the full article
Willis Re Securities closes €100mn cat bond for UnipolSai
22nd July 2020
Willis Re Securities, in collaboration with Willis Re, has structured and placed €100 million of insurance-linked securities for UnipolSai, the insurance arm of leading Italian financial group Unipol. Azzurro Re II Series 2020-1 settled on July 10 and provides UnipolSai with a single €100 million tranche of fully collateralised protection against ... Read the full article
Willis Re names James Moss as co-head of Specialty Casualty business
8th July 2020
Willis Re, the reinsurance broking arm of Willis Towers Watson (WTW), has announced the appointment of James Moss as co-head of its Specialty Casualty practice. He will work in tandem with Chirag Shah to lead Willis Re Specialty’s Casualty strategy in London. Moss has 30 years’ experience and joins from Lockton Re, ... Read the full article
COVID-19 impact on investments has been “nearly erased”: Willis Re
3rd July 2020
With markets continuing to rebound, analysts at reinsurance broker Willis Re believe that the negative impact of investments markets on re/insurer capital position has been “nearly erased.” For the global reinsurance industry, which hit -30% when markets were bottoming in March, Willis Re now estimates the impact on capital is now ... Read the full article
Reduced capacity boosts reinsurance pricing at US renewals: Willis Re
2nd July 2020
Reduced capacity helped reinsurers at the June and July US property renewals to control market dynamics and achieve significant rate increases, according to the Willis Re 1st View report. In Florida, new capacity proved difficult to acquire at June 1, which led to noteworthy premium increases and an average rate increase ... Read the full article





