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Interview: Aon’s Greg Case
Greg Case, CEO of Aon, believes that the broker can help its customers manage their way through the tough global operating environment and rise to the challenge of new and complex risks by working on a more robust fact basis



Montpelier Re passes tough reinsurance test

Bermuda reinsurance firm Montpelier Re's 10th anniversary has been marked by a punishing volley of catastrophe losses. The good news for the property-catastrophe specialist is its risk management has passed this test, says the firm's CEO Christopher Harris. 




Interview: Peter Hancock, CEO of Chartis

Peter Hancock took over at Chartis earlier this year as part of a restructure to make it more rational, less risky and capable of delivering the kind of consistent profits that the AIG group needs to maintain its march to full recovery. He tells us his plan for bringing the global property/casualty unit back to strength. 



Interview: Lexington's CEO on surplus lines
The excess and surplus lines market is battling twin challenges of property losses and an uncertain outlook, David Bresnahan, president of Lexington Insurance Company, tells Reactions in an exclusive interview. But the market is poised to benefit from much needed reform implemented in July


Greenlight Re: The reinsurer with a difference
Greenlight Re is not your average reinsurer - it brings a hedge fund's mindset to both sides of the balance sheet. 





IRB's Leonardo Paixão thinking beyond Brazil     30 August 2011
IRB-Brasil Re has had a tough time adjusting to no longer holding a monopoly of the Brazilian reinsurance market. Its plan to cope with losing market share in its own country is to aggressively target growth in other markets, its chairman tells Reactions.


Profile: Martin Sullivan, Willis deputy chairman    26 August 2011
Martin Sullivan, who was appointed deputy chairman of Willis last year, discusses his role and objectives now that he has re-invented himself as a broker after formerly being CEO of AIG.



Pat Ryan rides again    June 22 2011
The founder and retired CEO of Aon Corp, Pat Ryan, is an industry legend. Having grown Aon into a global broker, he started Ryan Specialty Group. Then last month RSG entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of specialist Lloyd's insurer Jubilee Group.


The Adrian Ladbury Interview: Torsten Jeworrek    12 May 2011
Torsten Jeworrek, CEO of Munich Re's reinsurance business, believes Japan earthquake losses may force a rethink of the types of coverage offered. Adrian Ladbury asks him about the implications of the event and emerging risks in general.



Barnabas Hurst-Bannister - The technophobe leading Lloyd's modernisation drive    01 March 2011
Barnabas Hurst-Bannister may strike one initially as an old school boy in a new man's world but initial impressions can be deceiving. This chap is in charge of London's reform process.


Michael McGavick gets XL Group back to its best    14 December 2010
Michael McGavick has led an impressive turnaround at XL since he took over with the firm in crisis. he explains how he did it, and what lies in store for the the firm.


INTERVIEW: Torus' Clive Tobin - The people person    30 November 2010
The global insurance market may have finally woken up to the power of technology but the secret to success is still to hire the right people, according to Clive Tobin, CEO of recently launched Torus.

INTERVIEW: Stefan Lippe's quick turnaround  14 September 2010
Stefan Lippe has overseen a rapid turnaround at Swiss Re. But he still has much work to do to pay back a capital injection from Warren Buffett, convince rating agencies it deserves to be in the double-A range, and win back the confidence of clients and shareholders. 


FEATURE: Thiele earns right to be irresponsible  01 September 2010
Patrick Thiele is leaving PartnerRe after 10 years. He leaves his successor, Costas Miranthis, a much different firm to the one he inherited.



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.


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.




Events conspiring against Lloyd's: Ward  25 March 2010
Lloyd's of London is unlikely to match last year's record profits in 2010, concedes Richard Ward, CEO of the market. But Ward believes market conditions are such that pricing must go up, he told Reactions in an interview.


 

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 2009
Michael 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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For more catastrophe reports, data and news, click through to the RMS/Reactions Catastrophe Centre.

Poll

Catastrophe bond issuance was $4.3bn in 2011. How much new issuance will there be in 2012?

Less than $3bn
0%
$3bn-$4bn
36%
$4bn-$5bn
27%
$5bn-$6bn
9%
$6bn-$7bn
18%
More than $7bn
9%

Quote

If last year was the year of the cat, then this year could be the year of the debt crisis.

Mike Van Slooten, head of international market analysis at Aon Benfield