Talent
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The expansive broker sees an opportunity in a highly consolidated reinsurance market.
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The executive had previously spent three years at consultancy firm Redington.
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Aggregate retro capacity has “reduced enormously” but rate increases were less severe than some had feared, the Willis Re international chairman said.
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The newcomer held the same role at the French insurer’s London hub for around nine years.
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Founding CIRCA members include Greenlight Re and Barents Re, as well as Knighthead and Nassau Re, whose senior executives take chair and vice chair roles.
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Manuel Almenara worked at Willis Re Latin America and Caribbean for 21 years until 2015 before moving to InsurTech Hello Zum.
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Other key hires include Marc Bearman as head of specialty for marine and energy and Andrew Smith as CRO.
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The InsurTech announced a partnership with Lockton Re earlier this month, and completed a fundraise in the fall.
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The hire follows a $18.5mn fundraise that the firm planned to use to expand in the US and Asia.
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The executive left PartnerRe in March of last year following a reorganisation of the company.
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Fellow founder Will Thorne will take over the leadership responsibilities and manage its second fund.
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Kessler will continue as chairman after the handover, while the incoming chief will start out as deputy CEO.