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.

US reinsurance capacity still sufficient to meet demand: Willis Re

6th January 2020

Capacity at the recent US reinsurance renewals was still sufficient to meet demand, despite trapped ILS capital and a lack of retrocession availability, according to analysts at Willis Re. The broker noted that cedants with growing portfolios benefited from headline reinsurance premium increases at the January 2020 renewals, which helped to ... Read the full article

Non-marine retro renewals hit by ILS capacity squeeze: Willis Re

6th January 2020

Capacity constraints from the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market resulted in a challenging renewal for the non-marine retrocessional market, according to Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of global insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson. Analysts noted that ILS capacity has been a driving force of retro capacity in recent years, but is now ... Read the full article

Willis Re highlights capacity reduction at Lloyd’s & London renewals

3rd January 2020

Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of global insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has commented on the January 2020 renewals for the Lloyd’s and London reinsurance markets, highlighting a meaningful reduction in capacity. Analysts at Willis Re said that this reduction in overall capacity had come as reinsurers scaled back casualty portfolios ... Read the full article

Willis Re notes some considerable price increases in a divergent renewal

2nd January 2020

Willis Re, the reinsurance arm of global insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has noted a divergent and late January renewal season which saw some considerable price increases in certain lines of business. Overall, Willis Re states that reinsurers have been judicial during the January 1st renewal season, resulting in significant pricing ... Read the full article

Willis Re Securities completes €120m cat bond for Covéa

19th November 2019

Willis Re Securities, a division of re/insurance broker Willis Towers Watson, has announced its role in structuring and placing Hexagon II Reinsurance DAC. This transaction provides French insurance group Covéa with a single €120 million tranche of fully collateralised protection against windstorm and other weather-related events for a four-year period. The structure ... Read the full article

Willis Re NA appoints Head of Global Accounts, promotes May to President

7th November 2019

Willis Re, the reinsurance business of global re/insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has appointed David Schoenrock as Executive Vice President and Head of Global Accounts for Willis Re North America. Effective December 23, Schoenrock will report to Doug May, who has concurrently been promoted to President of Willis Re North America. Schoenrock ... Read the full article

Swiss Re’s iptiQ is fuelled by the protection gap, says CEO Walker

24th October 2019

iptiQ Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of reinsurance giant Swiss Re, is focused on helping to close the huge and growing life and health protection gap, explained the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm, Philip Walker. Speaking with Willis Re as part of the reinsurance broker's latest quarterly InsurTech ... Read the full article

Willis Re appoints Aspen’s Donald Harrell as MD, COO of Specialty business

2nd October 2019

Willis Re, the reinsurance business of global re/insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson, has appointed Donald Harrell as Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer of its Specialty business. Based in London, Harrell’s new role will see him oversee the international expansion of the business. He will also be responsible for the day-to-day operations, ... Read the full article

Casualty market disconnected from previous cyclical change: Newman, Willis Re

13th September 2019

In casualty lines of business the reinsurance tail is no longer wagging the primary dog, as the market has disconnected from previous cycle changes, according to Andrew Newman, President of Willis Re. In an interview with Reinsurance News, Newman discussed current dynamics within the casualty reinsurance market and underlined primary insurers’ ... Read the full article

Brokerage is not an expense, says Willis Re Deputy Chair Hvidsten

11th September 2019

Reinsurance brokerage costs and commissions are not an expense for reinsurers and Willis Re sees little demand for substantial change on broker remuneration, according to Deputy Chairman Mark Hvidsten. Speaking to Reinsurance News in an interview, Hvidsten laid out the value that he feels a reinsurance broker brings to its clients, ... Read the full article

Technology won’t replace relationships in reinsurance: Hvidsten, Willis Re

10th September 2019

The important role technology plays in brokers’ service offering is set to increase and while it can and will help to improve efficiency, it’s unlikely to disrupt the reinsurance broking market, says Deputy Chairman of Willis Re, Mark Hvidsten. Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace and is increasingly influencing ... Read the full article

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