Everest Re hires Munich Re’s Beggs as Head, North America Reinsurance

Global insurance and reinsurance firm Everest Re has announced a new senior appointment to the newly created role of Head of North America Reinsurance, hiring Jill Beggs from Munich Re as a Senior Vice President.

Jill Beggs will join Everest Re as in the new role of Senior Vice President and Head of North America Reinsurance effective November 15th 2021.

Beggs, who has had a long career in the US reinsurance market with Munich Re America, will be tasked with overseeing the strategic direction of Everest Re’s reinsurance business in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, reporting to Jim Williamson, Everest Group COO and Head of Reinsurance.

“Everest’s leading global market position is fueled by exceptional talent. Adding Jill’s tremendous reinsurance experience to our seasoned team helps us to further capitalize on it,” explained Juan C. Andrade, Everest President and CEO. “Everest is building a well-diversified, world-class organization set apart by our people, value proposition and entrepreneurial culture. We will continue to invest in the strength of our reinsurance and insurance franchises, positioning Everest to support future growth and create even greater value for our colleagues, customers and our shareholders.”

Everest Re said the hire is part of its mission to “strengthen its leading market position and accelerate progress toward its strategic plan objectives outlined to investors earlier in the year,” alongside other investments in reinsurance talent made of late.

Beggs has more than 30 years of reinsurance underwriting expertise and she has held a number of senior roles leading U.S. treaty and facultative programs across multiple lines of business in her career.

At Munich Re Beggs was also credited with spearheading initiatives related to an innovation incubator and E&S insurance start-up.

Beggs had also previously worked at Everest Re, having spent the first ten years of her career in treaty property underwriting in the U.S. and Latin America at the firm.

“I’m thrilled to be returning to my roots with the incredible opportunity to build on the strength of Everest’s reinsurance franchise,” Jill Beggs said. “Everest has always been known for exceptional quality and long-standing relationships with its brokers and cedents. I plan to optimize this position and further solidify Everest as an industry leader.”

The role, having oversight of reinsurance in the US, Canada and Bermuda, is a significant one at Everest Re, putting new focus on the growth opportunity the company will have in those markets in the current firming environment.

Everest Re also said today that Everest Insurance leader Connie Germano will move across to its reinsurance division as Senior Vice President, Treaty Casualty & Surety.

Germano has 35 years of casualty underwriting experience and will report directly to Beggs. Most recently she was President of Specialty Casualty at Everest Insurance, before which she was in senior casualty underwriting roles with ACE in the U.S. and Zurich, Switzerland.

Germano succeeds Everest Re veteran Dennis Alba, who is set to retire in 2022 after a 40-year career in the industry.

“Jill is a widely-recognized industry talent who brings an extraordinary depth of experience leading teams through growth and transformation,” Jim Williamson, Group COO and Everest Head of Reinsurance commented. “This newly created position, combined with our recent promotions and appointments, is directly tied to our long-term strategy of solidifying our position as a leading global reinsurer. As we continue to position the business for the future, we are expanding advancement opportunities for our people that will ultimately better serve the market.

“I want to thank Dennis for his significant contributions to Everest, and welcome Connie, who is a proven, capable leader, and highly respected by our clients and colleagues. Connie’s underwriting depth and experience gives us a strategic advantage as we continue to invest in one of our most successful and thriving businesses.”