6 People on the Move

Steve Horton to lead a new Liberty unit. Joe Girardi joins CorRisk. Todd Cusano to lead Lawyers' Liability group for Ethos. Geraldine DelPrete joins SterlingRisk. Bala Viswanathan becomes COO for Mercer.
By: | December 11, 2018

Laurence Guguen joins Miller’s Credit and Political Risks (CPRI) Team

Working with Arnaud Froideval and the team in Paris, Laurence will work  with traders, banks, exporters and investment funds.

Laurence Guguen
Credit and Political Risks
Miller

Arnaud Froideval, Head of the CPRI European team, commented “Laurence is an excellent addition to the team. Her proven ability to design and implement strategies in complex and global environments will ensure Miller continues to deliver exceptional client service to our growing client base.”

Tim Press, Head of Special Risks, added “I am delighted Laurence has joined our team in Paris, which continues to be a pivotal angrowing part of our business.”

Mercer Taps Bala Viswanathan as COO

Mercer, a global consulting leader in advancing health, wealth and career, announced today that Bala Viswanathan, CEO of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (JLT) UK & Ireland Employee Benefits, will join Mercer as Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Viswanathan will report to President & CEO Julio Portalatin and also become a member of Mercer’s Global Executive Leadership Team.

Bala Viswanathan
Named COO for Mercer

Mr. Viswanathan’s appointment will become effective upon the closing of the transaction between Mercer’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies, and JLT. The transaction remains subject to the receipt of certain antitrust and financial regulatory approvals.

As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Viswanathan will work across Mercer to drive enhancements to the company’s offshore, technology and systems capabilities as well as client satisfaction and user experiences.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Viswanathan served as JLT’s Chief Operating Officer and has a long track record of successfully leading global business operations.

“Pending the outcome of the regulatory process, we look forward to welcoming Bala to Mercer in this strategically important role,” said Mr. Portalatin. “His successful career at JLT and his understanding of both operations and the global employee benefits market will further enhance our industry leadership, client relationships and organizational effectiveness.

He will be a valued addition to Mercer’s  brings more than 25 years’ experience to SterlingRisk, having held senior reinsurance and program development positions at some ofthe world’s largest insurance brokers, including Aon Corp.

SterlingRisk Insurance Hires Geraldine DelPrete as Director of Programs, Senior Vice President

SterlingRisk Insurance  announced  that Geraldine DelPrete has joined the firm as Director of Programs, Senior Vice President. DelPrete, a recognized leader in the reinsurance industry, brings more than 25 years’ experience to SterlingRisk, having held senior reinsurance and program development positions at some of the world’s largest insurance brokers, including Aon Corp.

Geraldine DelPrete
Director of Programs
Senior Vice President
SterlingRisk

“Geraldine’s  experience, skills, and deep understanding of program  development and management make her a valued, sought-after resource,” stated SterlingRisk CEO David Sterling. “We are honored to have her on our team.  I am confident that as Director of Programs, Geraldine will significantly grow and develop our program business and help position SterlingRisk as one of the leaders in the programs market. We look forward to Geraldine’s many contribtions throughout the organization.”

DelPrete began her professional career at the investment banking firm, J. Henry Schroeder, before launching her reinsurance career at Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, where she held several positions over a 12-year period.

“Geraldine’s  experience, skills, and deep understanding of program  development and management make her a valued, sought-after resource,” stated SterlingRisk CEO David Sterling. “We are honored to have her on our team.  I am confident that as Director of Programs, Geraldine will significantly grow and develop our program business and help position SterlingRisk as one of the leaders in the programs market. We look forward to Geraldine’s many contribtions throughout the organization.”

DelPrete began her professional career at the investment banking firm, J. Henry Schroeder, before launching her reinsurance career at Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, where she held several positions over a 12-year period.

Todd Cusano to Lead Lawyers’ Group for Ethos

Ethos Specialty Insurance Services (Ethos), an Ascot Group Company, announced the appointment of a Lawyers Professional Liability (LPL) group led by Todd Cusano, Senior Vice President.

Todd is joined in New York by Heather Ottoson and Katherine Norris; and in Chicago by Peter Clough and Scott Vroman.

The team will concentrate on developing Ethos’s specialized LPL offering in the E&S sector.

Rory Cline, Chief Executive Officer, Ethos, said, “Todd and the team are very well known and highly respected in the LPL market. Their contacts and underwriting expertise further strengthen our product offering and deepen the relationships with our broker partners and clients.”

Joe Girardi Joins CorRisk

WKFC Underwriting Managers and CorRisk Solutions announced that Joseph Girardi has joined CorRisk as Senior Vice President – Specialty Casualty.Previously, he served as Senior Vice President for Ironshore Insurance Services, where he helped build the Programs division and led it in developing and administering specialty programs across all lines of business.

Joe Girardi, SVP, CorRisk

Joseph began his insurance career with AIG, where he worked from 1986 to 2001, rising from Regional Commercial Claims Representative to Assistant Vice President of their Agency Initiative. He continued his career as the Vice President, Marketing for AXA Corporate Solutions, before joining QBE Insurance & Reinsurance Corporation as Vice President, Underwriting and Programs, where he managed property, casualty, and specialty lines. Joseph took his position with Ironshore in 2009.

Dawn D’Onofrio, President and CEO of WKFC and CorRisk, said, “We’re enthusiastic about adding Joseph’s underwriting expertise and program management experience to continue to build our professional lines and casualty programs. I am confident in Joseph’s ability to lead his specialty casualty teams to success by offering effective solutions for our clients.”

Steve Horton to Lead New Liberty Unit

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, is to integrate its Ironshore Bermuda businesses and brands into a single business branded as: Liberty Specialty Markets Bermuda.

Steve Horton
President
Liberty Specialty Markets
Bermuda

The new business will be led by Steve Horton, currently chief executive of Iron-Starr Excess Agency. He becomes President of Liberty Specialty Markets Bermuda (subject to approval by the Bermuda Department of Immigration) and will report to Mark Wheeler, President, international markets. The business will utilise the managing general agency structure, previously Iron-Starr Excess Agency Ltd, across its product lines, enabling each business to provide Liberty capacity as well as access to third party capacity.

Mark Wheeler said: “This move gives us a fantastic opportunity to bring all our Bermuda business under the Liberty Specialty Markets brand, acting as one global organisation and making a major contribution to our strategic priorities.

“Combining these businesses gives us a unified regional approach to Bermuda. This has major advantages for both our clients and Liberty itself. We will be able to offer clients our full suite of products and experience while making it easier to build stronger and deeper long-term client relationships.

We will also be able to provide our Bermuda-based clients with new products currently offered from other parts of Liberty, most notably specialty reinsurance from Liberty Mutual Re. Finally, the integration will put us in a stronger position for growth and business development in the region.

“Steve Horton is a highly capable and experienced executive who understands the Bermuda market exceptionally well. Under his leadership, our Bermuda operation will be in great hands.”

The R&I Editorial Team can be reached at [email protected].

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