2015 44 Bermuda:Re/insurance+ILS


She also began to explore the potential for further diversification


of Hamilton Re’s book, forging a partnership with Iron-Starr that provided access to a range of insurance products. Reardon also makes a point of paying it forward, taking time to mentor the younger women on her staff.


She is co-founder and chair of Women in Reinsurance (WiRe)


in Bermuda and devotes volunteer time to providing networking and professional development opportunities for women in the reinsurance industry.


Why did you choose to work in this industry initially? Kathleen Reardon


Job: CEO Company: Hamilton Re Career path


2014—CEO, Hamilton Re 2012—CUO property, Hamilton Re 2005—Chief underwriting officer international, ACE Tempest Re Bermuda


2001—Vice president underwriting, ACE Financial Solutions International


1994—Actuary, ACE USA


Kathleen Reardon is a member of the founding management team and has over 20 years of re/insurance industry experience. From November 2005 to October 2012, Reardon served as chief underwriting officer SVP for ACE Tempest Re Bermuda’s international property catastrophe reinsurance business. Prior to joining ACE Tempest Re, she worked from 2000 to 2005 at ACE Financial Solutions International, first as AVP underwriting and then as VP underwriting.


Before moving to Bermuda, Reardon held various actuarial roles at


ACE USA following ACE ‘s acquisition of CIGNA’s P&C business in 1999. She began her career at CIGNA in 1994 as an actuarial assistant.


She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member


of the American Academy of Actuaries. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


In the midst of one of the most difficult markets on record, Reardon has emerged as a CEO who knows how to build a profitable business and inspire her employees. She led her team in establishing a balanced portfolio, ending 2014 with a mix of business split almost evenly among property, casualty and specialty segments. She bolstered Hamilton Re’s underwriting and risk analysis capabilities, hiring employees with the skills and expertise to support Hamilton Re’s business plan.


After a recommendation by my high school calculus teacher, I started focusing on a potential career as an actuary. I loved math and statistics and actuary ranked very high in the Job Almanac. During university, I had several actuarial internships at insurance companies and I passed a few actuarial exams. I enjoyed the work, so I continued to pursue an actuarial career.


What has been the highlight of your career so far?


Making the decision to move in December 2000 from ACE in Philadelphia to ACE in Bermuda and start shifting from a pure actuarial role to more of an underwriting role was a very exciting time in my career. I haven’t regretted it since.


What has been the biggest challenge you have encountered?


Working for a startup company, Hamilton Re, has a unique set of challenges including building a portfolio of business from scratch. It has been the most challenging, but also most rewarding experience of my career. The learning opportunities are numerous.


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


Unlike many students, I had a pretty good idea that I wanted my career to involve math. However, looking now at what else interests me; I have always had an interest in improving nutrition and fitness for me and for others, so perhaps a dietician. Add an occasional Master of Ceremonies opportunity to that and I would be content. ■


“Making the decision to move in December 2000 from ACE in Philadelphia to ACE in Bermuda and start shifting from a pure actuarial role to more of an underwriting role was a very exciting time in my career. I haven’t regretted it since.”


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