100 influential women in re/insurance


entity in the US could exist without insurance, and how varied the options were in insurance. He was intrigued as I was the only woman who had applied for an interview, that I had ascertained what an underwriter did, and that I’d done a computer course. 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.


Name: Cathryn Curia


Company: Markel Global Re Job:


Managing director, North American property reinsurance


Timeline: 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 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


34 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 2015


What has been the highlight of your career so far? 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 to then 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. I was a novelty, which created curiosity in some, ignorance in others and the need to develop relationships and a work ethic that allowed me to prove my abilities. As I look back, working through that issue over the years has enabled me to continue to take on challenges and opportunities.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? As I pursued my CPCU designation, I became intrigued by law. 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. That being said, I am very focused on evaluating wordings when underwriting and negotiating contracts.


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