The world's best insurers, reinsurers, brokers and service providers were revealed at the Reactions Global Awards 2008 in New York on August 26. The winners received their awards at a glamorous dinner in the prestigious Rainbow Room, on the 65th floor of The Rockefeller Center.
German insurer Allianz had a strong showing, with awards for best European primary insurance company and best global primary insurance company. In addition, Michael Diekmann, CEO of Allianz, was named insurance CEO of the year.
In the reinsurance section, Swiss Re had the best night, coming away with awards for best global reinsurance company for life and best global reinsurance company overall.
Marsh and Aon dominated the insurance broking category. Marsh won best European broker and best Asia-Pacific broker, while Aon was awarded best North American broker, best London market broker and best global broker. Joe Plumeri, CEO of Willis, won insurance broker CEO of the year.
Guy Carpenter came out best in the reinsurance broking section, picking up two awards – best global broker for casualty/liability and best global broker overall. Grahame Chilton, CEO of Benfield, won reinsurance broker CEO of the year.
In the service providers category, Goldman Sachs came out on top with awards for both best investment bank and best ILS advisor. Standard & Poor's was voted the best rating agency and RMS picked up the award for best risk modelling firm.
Individuals also received awards for outstanding merit and achievement. Hank Greenberg, chairman and CEO of CV Starr & Co, won the award for lifetime achievement. And the award for most influential individual of the year was split between Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and Ajit Jain, president of reinsurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway.
The awards are the result of an extensive poll conducted by Reactions of its readership. Over a period of months, Reactions collected responses through an online poll and telephone interviews.
The full list of winners is:
Insurance Companies
Best North American Primary Insurance Company – Chubb
Best European Primary Insurance Company – Allianz
Best Asia-Pacific Primary Insurance Company – AIG
Best Latin American Primary Insurance Company – Mapfre
Best London Market Primary Insurance Company – RSA
Best Global Primary Insurance Company – Allianz
Insurance CEO of the Year – Michael Diekmann, Allianz
Reinsurance Companies
Best Global Reinsurance Company for Property – Endurance
Best Global Reinsurance Company for Casualty/Liability – Hannover Re
Best Global Reinsurance Company for Specialty Lines – Aspen
Best Global Reinsurance Company for Life – Swiss Re
Best Global Reinsurance Company – Swiss Re
Reinsurance CEO of the Year – Nikolaus von Bomhard, Munich Re
Bermuda Company
Best Bermuda Market [Re]insurance Company – Ace
Insurance Brokers
Best North American Broker – Aon
Best European Broker – Marsh
Best Asia-Pacific Broker – Marsh
Best Latin American Broker – Willis
Best London Market Broker – Aon
Best Global Broker – Aon
Insurance Broker CEO of the Year – Joe Plumeri, Willis
Reinsurance Brokers
Best Global Broker for Property – Benfield
Best Global Broker for Casualty/Liability – Guy Carpenter
Best Global Broker for Specialty Lines – Willis Re
Best Global Broker – Guy Carpenter
Reinsurance Broker CEO of the Year – Grahame Chilton, Benfield
Service Providers
Best Law Firm – Dewey & LeBouef
Best Global Rating Agency – Standard & Poor's
Best Risk Modelling Firm – RMS
Best Accounting Firm – KPMG
Best Investment Bank – Goldman Sachs
Best ILS Advisor – Goldman Sachs
Best Asset Manager – Deutsche Bank Best Technology Vendor – CSC
Individual Awards
Influential Individual of the Year – Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and Ajit Jain, president of reinsurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway
Lifetime Achievement – Maurice Greenberg, chairman and CEO, CV Starr & Co