NEW YORK-BASED HEAD OF CASUALTY FOR NORTH AMERICA

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions

PREVIOUS POSITION: Chicago-based head of casualty for the central region with Swiss Re Corporate Solutions

LOOKING FORWARD TO: I moved to Chicago from New York in 2007, and I look forward to being back in New York City to catch up with old friends, brokers and customers in my new role. This will take me across the U.S. and Canada, with an opportunity to build new relationships in the industry and expand awareness of Corporate Solutions' capabilities, for example, in energy hubs in North America. There's plenty to keep me busy.

GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Build upon the great team of underwriters at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and strengthen our customer relationships that make up our casualty business today.

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: Casualty underwriting is long-tail business, so we have to be positive to do it.

CHALLENGES FACING INDUSTRY: Overcapacity in excess liability markets gets a lot of press, but there is nothing like stronger underlying economic growth to boost opportunity. The slow economic recovery has meant low inflation with little effect on reserves. I believe this will change, some of that capacity may become scarcer.

FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I began my career as a banker, where I was responsible for determining coverage for large energy and transportation construction projects, including contractor-controlled insurance programs, efficacy and other exotic contingency covers to facilitate bank financing. Some of this was in Asia and Latin America, and it was a huge learning experience for me.

WHAT SURPRISED ME: I watched my old boss do an excellent job for years, and he made it look easy. Then you immerse yourself in it and realize it's not as easy as it looks.

HOBBIES: As much squash as I can find time to play, and active involvement with a couple charities, as well as three kids and a dog.

WHEN I RETIRE: It's hard to imagine retirement at this point. That's so far down the road. My wife dreams of owning a jasmine farm in the south of France. If I'm lucky, she'll let me work there.

BEST CITY: Hong Kong on a Friday night, Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago, then brunch on Sunday in New York.