Rising stars


“If you have the work ethic to back up your ambition, a career in re/insurance will take you as far as you want to go.”


ethic to back up your ambition, a career in re/insurance will take you as far as you want to go.


Name: Victoria Cunningham


Company: Tokio Millennium Re Job:


Assistant vice president, underwriting


Timeline: January 2014: Assistant vice president, underwriting, Tokio Millennium Re


January 2012: Assistant underwriter, Tokio Millennium Re


April 2010: Underwriting assistant— Tokio Millennium Re


January 2004: Senior re/insurance analyst, Kirkway International


2003: Claims administrator, BF&M Bermuda


Describe your career so far and current role. I joined Tokio Millennium Re in April 2010. My current responsibilities include underwriting the US workers’ compensation catastrophe book. Prior to this, I was responsible for underwriting the excess casualty portfolio and worked on professional lines and medical malpractice accounts within the specialty casualty team. Prior to joining Tokio Millennium Re, I worked for Kirkway


International, an independent reinsurance intermediary in Bermuda. I assisted with providing excess insurance and reinsurance solutions to both traditional insurance companies and alternative risk vehicles.


Why did you choose the re/insurance industry? When I was growing up, the industry always had a fairly staid and sober image. However, as a Bermudian I was encouraged to take a closer look following Hurricane Fabian in 2003 and will admit that my initial opinions were unfounded. The potential for growth, both professionally and personally, can be endless. If you have the work


Do you think the industry is attractive to young professionals? I was attracted by the countless opportunities available to me within the industry from a relatively young age and have been lucky to have had some great mentors along the way. I think as a young professional today, the industry still has its allure but it is also a slightly tougher sell, given the market conditions and consolidations taking place. However, with determination and hard work I think the benefits are well worth the effort.


Do you think the re/insurance industry offers good opportunities and career development to young professionals? I think the industry offers a wide variety of opportunity for young professionals; whether it be on the broking, underwriting side or in more of a behind-the-scenes role. On-the-job learning is critical and companies are focusing more on professional development of their employees. At Tokio Millennium Re (TMR) we are encouraged to attain insurance-related designations. TMR also has a good mix of experienced professionals who are committed to providing training in a high performance environment. There is also a wide variety of industry associations in Bermuda


that provide educational and networking opportunities to young professionals in a more relaxed environment.


What are your aspirations for the future? I have been at Tokio Millennium Re for five years and, in that time, have had the opportunity to work alongside senior underwriters responsible for various different lines of business. Over the last few years, I have managed my own book of business and hope to continue to grow that in line with corporate guidelines and build my reputation with brokers and colleagues around the world. I constantly look out for new challenges and, over time, look forward to what gets thrown my way.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? Having studied geography at university, I always thought I would go into meteorology and quite fancied a career on TV as a weather presenter! Failing that I would have been a professional skier.


May 2015 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 23


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