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.

For protection gaps, the key issue remains demand: Vickers, Willis Re

10th September 2019

When it comes to closing much-discussed protection gaps the insurance and reinsurance industry cannot work alone and must partner with other organisations to help to increase demand for protection, according to James Vickers of Willis Re. The Willis Re International Chairman told us in an interview that “reinsurance alone cannot help ... Read the full article

Cyber unlikely to be a panacea for reinsurers: Vickers, Willis Re

9th September 2019

The still emerging cyber risk insurance and reinsurance market is not likely to prove the panacea that some hope it will, according to Willis Re International Chairman James Vickers. Vickers explained in a recent interview that while cyber risk is increasing rapidly around the globe, it is not yet clear where ... Read the full article

Reinsurance rate rises uneven & regional: Tony Melia, Willis Re

6th September 2019

Movements in reinsurance rates seen at mid-year 2019 renewals were not evenly distributed, with differentiation of cedants and regional price dynamics the order of the day. Willis Re International CEO Tony Melia explained to us in a recent interview that the reinsurance market has become increasingly nuanced, when it comes to ... Read the full article

Willis Re promotes Franck Pinette to lead Intl Life & Health Practice

5th September 2019

Willis Re, the reinsurance business of global re/insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has promoted Franck Pinette to lead its International Life & Health Practice. Pinette, who joined Willis Re as Managing Director for EMEA Life & Health in 2018, brings over 30 years’ experience to the role. Prior to joining Willis Re, ... Read the full article

Dedicated reinsurance capital up 8% to $559bn in H1 2019: Willis Re

4th September 2019

Global reinsurance broker Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has reported that total, dedicated reinsurance capital increased by 8% in the first-half of 2019 to $559 billion, compared with $518 billion at the end of 2018. According to the reinsurance broker's latest Reinsurance Market Report, the largest ... Read the full article

Re/insurers’ silent cyber concerns ease in 2019, finds Willis Re survey

29th August 2019

The re/insurance sector is considerably less concerned about silent cyber exposures than it was in 2018, according to an annual global survey by Willis Re, the reinsurance division of broker Willis Towers Watson. Analysts believe that the fall in silent cyber claims expectations could stem from the absence of wide-scale cyber ... Read the full article

New InsurTech investments hit $1.4 billion in Q2: Willis Towers Watson

25th July 2019

Total new InsurTech funding commitments exceeded $1.2 billion for the fourth consecutive quarter in Q2 2019, as 69 deals with a total value of $1.41 billion were announced in the period, according to insurance and reinsurance broker, Willis Towers Watson (WTW). The broker's latest quarterly InsurTech report highlights a buoyant investment ... Read the full article

Willis Re deploys updated US wildfire risk solution

9th July 2019

Willis Re, the reinsurance division of global brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has announced the deployment of an updated US wildfire risk solution. The solution, launched in partnership with geospatial data enrichment and analytics firm SpatialKey, supports Willis Re clients in writing and pricing wildfire risk. Willis Re has cited the recent California ... Read the full article

Reinsurers see “tangible pricing momentum” at July renewals: Willis Re

1st July 2019

After a hesitant start to the year, reinsurers have experienced “tangible pricing momentum" at the mid-year renewals, according to Willis Re, although improvements are falling short of those seen in the primary markets. The broker’s 1st View report observed reinsurance pricing increases across most territories at the July renewals, with some ... Read the full article

Willis Re’s Andrew Souter joins Pioneer as Head of Capital

13th June 2019

Andrew Souter has been appointed Head of Capital at Pioneer Underwriters, effective 19th August 2019. In his new role he will report to Pioneer's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andrew McMellin, and will be responsible for the capital and reinsurance buying functions within the company, while at the same time being tasked ... Read the full article

Willis Re uses PCS index as trigger for Japan ILW

29th May 2019

Willis Re has become the first reinsurance broker to structure and trade an industry loss warranty (ILW) using Property Claim Services’ (PCS) new Japan index as trigger. PCS expanded its industry loss data aggregation and index reporting services to include non-marine catastrophe losses in Japan in January 2019, following the impacts ... Read the full article

Willis Re & Concirrus partner on specialty re/insurance using IoT

22nd May 2019

The global reinsurance arm of broker Willis Towers Watson, Willis Re, has entered into a strategic partnership with InsurTech firm Concirrus to transform specialty re/insurance products by leveraging data from the Internet of Things (IoT). Under the partnership, Willis Re will join London-based Concirrus' Power20, a community of visionaries who are ... Read the full article

InsurTech investments break records in Q1 2019: Willis Towers Watson

9th May 2019

For the third consecutive quarter, InsurTech funding surpassed the $1 billion mark in the opening three months of 2019, with 85 deals recorded with a total value of $1.42 billion, according to the latest quarterly InsurTech Briefing from insurance and reinsurance broker, Willis Towers Watson (WTW). When compared with the fourth-quarter ... Read the full article

Cat bond issuance hits six-year low in Q1 2019: Willis Re

7th May 2019

Growth in the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market continued to slow in the first quarter of 2019, with $1.1 billion raised through non-life catastrophe bond issues, according to Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of broker Willis Towers Watson. Analysts noted that issuance was well below the average of $1.8 billion raised during ... Read the full article

Underlying RoE declines as expenses ratios rise, combined ratio weakens: Willis Re

26th April 2019

Rising expense ratios and a steady but "relentless" decline in the underlying return on equity (RoE) is challenging the profitability of the subset of reinsurers in the Willis Reinsurance Index, reports reinsurance broker Willis Re. Willis Re's latest biannual Reinsurance Market report highlights a decline in global, dedicated reinsurance capital ... Read the full article