2015 Bermuda:Re/insurance+ILS 19


back-up plan, I met with several companies, one being an insurance company at a symposium. The HR director of the insurance company was dynamic in explaining to me how no entity in the US could exist without insurance, and how varied the options were in insurance.


Ultimately, the government positions I was offered were all in


New York City. As Atlantic Mutual was also in New York City, and as they offered me the opportunity as their first woman trainee, and at a better salary than government, I entered Atlantic’s training programme.


What has been the highlight of your career so far? Cathryn Curia


Job title: Managing director, North American property reinsurance Company: Markel Global Re Career path


2013—Managing director, North American property reinsurance, Markel 2005—Joined Max Re 2002—Executive vice president, Platinum Re 2001—Executive vice president, St Paul Re 1983—Joined St Paul Re 1969—Secretary, reinsurance, Atlantic Mutual Insurance


Cathryn A. Curia, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), serves Markel Re as managing director, US property reinsurance. Prior to Markel’s acquisition of Alterra in 2013, Curia served in a similar capacity for Alterra, having joined its predecessor company, Max Re in 2005. Prior to joining Alterra, she served as executive vice president— North American property treaty for Platinum Underwriters Re from its inception in 2002 until 2003.


Preceding the Platinum Underwriters IPO, she was employed by


St Paul Re from 1983 to 2002 in various positions, most recently as executive vice president—North American property treaty. She began her career as a trainee at Atlantic Mutual Companies, where she was ultimately secretary—reinsurance.


Curia received her BA in Economics from the College of Notre


Dame of Maryland. She earned the CPCU, the Associate in Risk Management and the Associate in Reinsurance designations. She is a member of the Society of CPCU. She is a member and past president of the Association of Professional Insurance Women.


Why did you choose to work in this industry initially?


I was planning to enter US government work in Washington DC upon my graduation from college. However, in order to have a


One highlight was participating in a re-engineering team at St Paul Re for several months. It took me out of my underwriting role and provided me with the opportunity to participate with senior management in the restructuring of our operations and then to be part of the leadership of implementing significant changes in underwriting, marketing and customer service. I learned then what it was to be a “change agent”, and I’ve focused in years since on the need to be willing to advance change.


Another has been the opportunity to join Max Re (predecessor


to Alterra and Markel) as it established a North American property catastrophe operation in Bermuda. To be part of building a profitable book of business in the aftermath of the 2004 and 2005 catastrophe years has been a tremendous experience. With the focus on the Bermuda market, the regular interface with brokers and ceding company managements has been very beneficial.


What has been the biggest challenge you have encountered?


Having graduated from a woman’s college, until I entered the business world, I had never encountered a situation where my abilities and views were not accepted purely because I was a woman. Fortunately my educational environment had instilled in me a certain degree of confidence that I could do whatever was expected of me.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been?


I was encouraged by instructors to pursue law school, but the timing and economics didn’t work for me. I think I still would have stayed with insurance/reinsurance, but might have had a different career path. ■


“Until I entered the business world, I had never encountered a situation where my abilities and views were not accepted purely because I was a woman.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55