John Butler joins Cohen & Company to develop ILS business

John Butler, who was previously a Managing Partner at insurance and reinsurance linked investment management firm Twelve Capital, has joined fixed income financial services specialists Cohen & Company, LLC to develop a U.S. Insurance Asset Management Platform and Global ILS Program.

Butler, who has over 20 years of reinsurance and ILS market experience, will help Cohen & Company as it looks to strengthen its capabilities in insurance related investments and asset management.

In his time at ILS specialists Twelve Capital, Butler held the roles of Managing Partner and Head of Investment Management, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Twelve Capital’s UK operations and President of its U.S. operations. He worked on origination, analysis, structuring and portfolio management of insurance private debt, catastrophe bond and other collateralised reinsurance related transactions.

“We are thrilled that John will be joining us as we continue to expand our insurance platform,” commented Lester Brafman, CEO of the Company. “The combination of his extensive product knowledge, strong industry relationships and deep management experience make John ideally suited to take on this role.  This strong addition to our team exemplifies our continued commitment to Cohen & Company’s global insurance related investment strategies and we are delighted to welcome John aboard.”

Daniel Cohen, Vice-Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive of European Business, added; “John’s appointment complements our existing presence in insurance related investments. We have been investing in insurance company debt since 2003, and we look forward to strengthening this capacity with John’s leadership and expertise.”

Cohen & Company has put $4 billion to work through Dekania Capital Management, LLC and Cohen & Company Financial Limited managed products and currently manages its PriDe program, which is focused on subordinated debt for European insurers, an area Butler had focused in his previous role.

During his career Butler has also worked at Hannover Re Bermuda and White Mountains Reinsurance Group in senior underwriting roles, managing portfolios covering a range of reinsurance business lines. He began his career at the Imperial Fire & Marine Reinsurance Company in London as assistant to the marine and energy treaty underwriter.