ZURICH—PartnerRe Ltd. said Wednesday that Dean Graham has been named head of the reinsurer's life unit.

Based in Zurich, Mr. Graham oversees all of PartnerRe's life operations and reports to Deputy Head of Capital Markets and Head of Capital Assets Marvin Pestcoe. As of Oct. 1, Mr. Pestcoe becomes CEO of PartnerRe Capital Markets Group.

Mr. Graham succeeds Franck Pinette, who has been named CEO of the European life reisnurance unit of Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C., effective Dec. 1, based in Paris. Mr. Pinette will remain with PartnerRe until Oct. 8 to ensure a smooth transition, said a spokesperson for the Pembroke, Bermuda-based reinsurer.

Prior to his promotion, Mr. Graham was deputy head of life since 2008. Before that, he was chief operating officer of Old Mutual Life Assurance Co. (South Africa) Ltd. and managing director of Old Mutual Investment Administrators Pty. Ltd.