Big Interviews
INTERVIEW: Frank O'Halloran - QBE's Mr 15%
Frank O’Halloran has a tough return target for Australian insurance and reinsurance group QBE and he is not budging, despite stagnant pricing, falling investment returns and first-half catastrophes.
INTERVIEW: Neil Currie - Currie keeping RenRe focused
Neill Currie oversaw a record year for Bermuda catastrophe reinsurance writer RenaissanceRe in 2009. He is confident RenRe can keep up the pace, despite first-quarter losses, the threat of new regulation and potential changes to how Bermuda firms are taxed.
INTERVIEW: Kevin Kelley – Ironshore Man 25 May 2010
Ironshore has bulked up since Kevin Kelley joined from AIG to lead the firm. But the firm is facing accusations of undercutting to build market share.
PROFILE: Inside Hank Greenberg’s new empire 22 April 2010
Hank Greenberg’s CV Starr is growing fast at a time when most insurance firms’ revenues are shrinking – not least those of his former firm AIG. In an exclusive interview, Reactions talks to Greenberg and his divisional presidents to find out what the future holds.
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INTERVIEW: Robert Stuchbery – The old boy’s tale 21 April 2010
Robert Stuchbery has made a good start as CEO of Lloyd’s insurer Chaucer. But the firm still has some way to go to regain credibility with investors.
INTERVIEW: Cash confident of growth 09 March 2010
Endurance's new CEO will be looking to continue the work done under eight years of Ken LeStrange's leadership but won't be afraid to make big changes if necessary, he tells Reactions in an exclusive interview.
INTERVIEW: PartnerRe ready to punch its weight 16 February 2010
PartnerRe's acquisition of Paris Re, along with involvement in initiatives such as the Global Reinsurance Forum trade group, confirms Patrick Thiele's position as one of the most influential reinsurance executives around.
INTERVIEW: Tom Bolt - Lloyd's new enforcer 28 January 2010
The new director of underwriting performance at Lloyd’s has a big challenge to fill the shoes of his predecessor, Rolf Tolle.
PROFILE: Markel restructured and ready for acquisitions 11 January 2010
Markel’s approach to investments cost the firm millions in 2008. Reactions asked its vice-chairman Tony Markel whether this has heralded a change at the firm.
INTERVIEW: Prem Watsa 24 November 2009
After years of fierce criticism, Prem Watsa’s long-term value investing approach has been fully vindicated. His firm Fairfax has made billions from the financial crisis
INTERVIEW: The world according to Guy Carp 16 October 2009
Anyone who thinks Guy Carpenter is happy to be left in the shade following Aon buying Benfield had better think again. Since taking over as CEO last year, Peter Zaffino has knocked the firm into shape, bought US broker Collins and is now targeting aggressive growth in Europe.
Ulrich Wallin: A safe pair of hands 10 September 2009
Ulrich Wallin took over from Wilhelm Zeller as CEO of Hannover Re at the start of July. In the wake of the financial turmoil last year, his quieter, pragmatic approach may be just what the company needs.
PROFILE: Arig – the home-grown Arab reinsurer 30 July 2009
Yassir Albaharna, CEO of Middle East reinsurer Arab Insurance Group, says his company’s home-grown strategy has been a success.
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Interview: Andrew Horton’s baptism of fire at Beazley 15 June 2009
With two hurricanes, two acquisitions, a financial crisis and a move to Ireland to deal with, Andrew Horton has had a busy first nine months in charge of Beazley.
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David Brown interview: Flagstone Re's global ambitions 01 Apr 2009 Class of 2005 reinsurer Flagstone Re was not content with being just another Bermudian. Its recent entry into Lloyd's and a redomicile to Switzerland have added another couple of strings to its bow.
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Interview: Michael McGavick's fight to save XL Capital 16 Mar 2009Michael McGavick took over at XL during a year from hell for the firm. Now he is looking forward to turning it back into a tightly focused property/casualty insurer and reinsurer.
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Eric Dinallo: New York's insurance cop 12 Feb 2009 Eric Dinallo, state insurance superintendent of New York, last year found himself at the centre of AIG's fight for survival as well as the bond insurance debacle. For his next trick he plans to revive the New York insurance exchange.
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Duperreault on MMC challenge: 'We still have so much more to do.' 01 Jan 2009
Brian Duperreault has been working hard to cut costs at Marsh & McLennan Companies since taking over at the end of January 2008. But his vision for the firm involves far more than mere expense control.
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Gen Re's Tad Montross - The quiet American 03 Nov 2008 Gen Re chairman and CEO Tad Montross doesn't broadcast his opinions as much as his peers in the global reinsurance business. That doesn't mean he doesn't have any, he tells Garry Booth in a rare interview.
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Aon Benfield Re: GoodBedfellas 01 Oct 2008 Andrew Appel, Michael O'Halleran and Grahame Chilton on what Benfield will bring to the Aon family.
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Company profile: Munich Re moving up a gear 01 Sep 2008 Nikolaus von Bomhard has transformed the fortunes of Munich Re since becoming CEO in 2004. Richard Crump asks him how he did it and why the German reinsurer is pursuing a markedly different strategy than its peers.
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Joe Plumeri: The industry's biggest cheerleader 01 Aug 2008 Willis has hit the big time in the US with its acquisition of HRH. Michael Loney talks to its CEO Joe Plumeri about the deal, Willis's future and why the man who wanted nothing to do with insurance is now its biggest fan.
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Hank Greenberg: "I'm not looking for revenge" 01 Jun 2008
Hank Greenberg's life since being forced to leave AIG has remained heavily linked to his old firm. He tells Michael Loney his plans for CV Starr, what is wrong at his old firm and why retirement is not an option.
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Company profile: Argo's transformative years 01 May 2008 From troubled US workers' compensation insurer to international specialty lines underwriter, Argo Group has reinvented itself this decade. Richard Crump talks to its CEO Mark Watson about the next stage of the group's transformation.
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Arthur J Gallagher: Running up a down escalator 01 Apr 2008
His firm is battling against falling margins, and has been forced to sell units and slash jobs. But Pat Gallagher, CEO of Arthur J Gallagher, the world's fourth-biggest broker, thinks his firm is in a lucky position. Michael Loney asks him why.
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Company profile: Kiln's eastern promise 01 Mar 2008 December's announcement that Japanese insurer Tokio Marine is to buy Kiln ended rampant speculation about who would snap up the Lloyd's insurer. Richard Crump speaks to Charles Franks, CEO of RJ Kiln, about how Kiln feels about its new owners and how the acquisition will affect the firm.
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Keeping Arch ahead of the curve 01 Feb 2008 Arch Capital Group has changed its business profile greatly in the past six years. Michael Loney talks to Dinos Iordanou, the firm's CEO, about how the company will cope with a softening market.
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Settling the Scor 01 Jan 2008 From triple-B-range reinsurer on the edge of oblivion to number five reinsurer in the world. French reinsurer Scor has turned its fortunes around and is riding high. Denis Kessler, the firm's larger than life CEO, tells Verena Horne the story behind this remarkable turnaround and his ambitious plans for growth.
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