Aviva‘s latest Family Finances Report highlights very clearly the lack of planning people generally have in place should they die. It also reveals that although families know they should plan ahead for the inevitable, they find it difficult to have those important conversations. 

The report suggests that 62% of people feel that death is a taboo subject. These figures are borne out by similar figures issued by the Dying Matters Coalition which suggests that 72% of the public believe that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement.  Furthermore, just 18% of British adults say they have asked a family member about their end of life wishes.

A good starting point is making a Will. Some of the potential issues if you do not make a Will are as follows:

• You cannot be sure that those you would wish to benefit will actually do so.
• Your spouse or civil partner may not inherit all of your estate.
• Although the term "Common Law" husband or wife is frequently used to describe a couple who have lived together for many years, such relationships have no legal recognition. As such, your partner may not be entitled to anything.
• Minor children could be taken into care whilst Guardians are appointed, yet the Aviva report suggests that 54% of parents have made no plans whatsoever, including 28% who don’t think they will ever need or want to plan for childcare if they pass away!!
• There could be lengthy delays for your beneficiaries and disputes.

Despite all of this, only 35% of the public say they have written a Will. 

Organ donorship was addressed by only 27% of those surveyed, a decision which can have such a positive influence on someone else’s life. Protocol recently changed in Wales, where a system of deemed consent has been introduced, hoping to increase the number of organs available for transplant. So the Welsh authorities have decided to take the initiative, and save us from finding the right time to have a difficult conversation.   

How can we make end of life discussions more comfortable?

Sometimes people feel motivated to talk about funeral and financial planning after the painful loss of a loved one, especially if they experienced difficulties settling that person’s affairs. But can we be pro- active rather than re- active?

Discussions and pre-need planning means families have no doubts about the funeral their nearest and dearest wanted, or how they wanted to distribute their estate. Even if the funeral is not pre-paid, final wishes can be recorded   informally in a letter, or formally in a Will. If recording your wishes in a Will, it is worthy to note that those wishes are not legally binding on your executors. However, once the subject of a Will is open for discussion, perhaps related matters follow more easily.

The loss of a loved one at any time can be very difficult, both emotionally and financially. Not only are you left dealing with the grief of your loss, but you are also left making potentially significant financial decisions at a time when you are least able to cope.

The bereaved families we help at Rowland Brothers International after a tragedy away from home are often shocked and numb after receiving tragic and unexpected news, but questions are very similar from one family to another. Do they need to register the death again? Which local authorities will accept a foreign death certificate? Will they need translations? If there was not a Will, are there any surprises in terms of inheritance? Who can or will look after young children left without parents, or who can access financial accounts? Or who will administer the estate and who will inherit what?

In May 2016, we are supporting a nationwide event in the UK called Dying Matters Awareness Week. This year’s event is entitled “The Big Conversation", encouraging families to think about the future, and take responsibility for planning ahead to support their families.

Rowland Brothers Funeral Directors and its sister companies Golden Leaves Funeral Plans and Lifecare Planning Solutions are hosting events to raise awareness and encourage discussion about end of life matters. We hope that our events will break down barriers and encourage conversation about a topic that is easy to ignore, but vital to address.

Written By Steve Rowland, Rowland Brothers International

For further information: steveATrowlandbrothers.com (replace AT with @)

Kareo today announced the results of a survey, in partnership with the American Academy of Private Physicians (AAPP), measuring the perceptions and benefits of various practice models. Kareo joined efforts with AAPP on this survey in part to raise awareness of its agile medical practice model. The model exists to empower independent practices’ success by helping them incorporate various payment modalities to solve contentious issues associated with a traditional practice model.

The survey measured common practice challenges, motivations for considering direct pay or concierge practice models, as well as the most important technological needs in direct pay, concierge and insurance-based practice settings.

The survey revealed that 46% of primary care physicians would consider transitioning to direct pay, concierge or other membership models in the next three years, citing the desire to spend more time with patients and to separate from the insurance payer system as their primary motivators. In fact, 81% of private (direct pay or concierge) practices reported that, on average, they spend 30-60 minutes with patients, whereas the majority of traditional insurance-based practices stated that they were only able to spend 15-20 minutes with a patient on average.

Respondents also detailed the primary challenges of each of their respective practice models. For conventional, insurance-based practices, the most commonly faced challenge is staying financially viable. For concierge and direct-pay practices, recruiting new patients was the top concern.

“As this survey showcases, there are challenges and benefits for both private and conventional practice models,” said Rob Pickell, Chief Strategy Officer of Kareo. “However, despite varying workflows and processes, providers are assessing the environment and making changes to better serve patients and ensure the success of their practices. As independent providers look to become more agile, it is Kareo’s mission to support the enhanced payment and practice marketing demands of all care models.”

“The insights gleaned from this survey show the shifting mind set in small practices working to remain independent ahead of changing patient expectations,” said Tom Blue, Chief Strategy Officer of AAPP. “These results reaffirm the need to make medical care more accessible and convenient to patients, reinforcing AAPP’s mission and supporting Kareo’s innovative philosophy around the benefits of becoming an agile medical practice.”

New research released today by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) provides an analysis of claims experience and data that has become available since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) state and federal health insurance exchanges. The report examines the use of services – those that are likely to be deferred or avoided due to financial constraint because of a lack of insurance – by the newly insured enrolled in the Kansas exchange in the first quarter of 2014.

The study, the first in a series of reports to be produced through a data partnership with the Kansas Department of Insurance, reveals that new enrollees in the Kansas exchange appear to have used preference-sensitive treatments at a level that exceeded the expectation of differences due to demographics alone, suggesting pent-up demand for those services. According to the SOA analysis, the estimated overall increase in total cost of care due to the pent-up demand for these preference-sensitive services is less than three percent.

"Since the implementation of the exchanges, and as insurers prepare to file rates for 2016, health actuaries around the country have been analyzing many factors, including available claims data, that affect the cost of insurance," said Rebecca Owen, FSA MAAA, a health research actuary at the SOA who co-authored the report. "It will be especially important for actuaries to examine available claims data for the persistence of pent-up demand as they make adjustments to models to estimate future costs."

Additional findings from the study include:

• New enrollees to the Kansas exchange, with no prior coverage, were more likely to be female and older than existing individual members with continuous coverage and were also more likely to have chronic disease;
• In the first quarter, the newly insured enrolled in the Kansas exchange had higher catastrophic costs (members with more than$100,000 in costs for the first quarter) than the continuously enrolled population, due in part to maternity costs;
• The newly enrolled population used office visits at a much higher rate than the continuing population did, and more of the visits were for established patients; and
• Utilization rates of seven specific procedures were higher among the newly enrolled in Kansas exchange, while the utilization rate of one – dermatology – was lower.

As more data about the experience of people in the Kansas exchange becomes available, the SOA will produce additional research that builds on the work before, and subsequent studies will provide a more in-depth analysis of the pent-up demand phenomenon.

Swiss Re Capital Markets has successfully led the issuance of EUR 285 million of insurance-linked securities by Benu Capital Limited ("Benu") on behalf of AXA Global Life, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AXA S.A. The securities cover excess mortality events in France, Japan and the United States. It is the largest excess mortality issuance since 2007.

Swiss Re Capital Markets underwrote the transaction which covers excess mortality events via two classes of Principal At-Risk Variable Rate Notes issued by Benu Capital Limited. Benu Capital Limited (Benu) is an Irish private company incorporated with limited liability. The EUR 135 million Class A notes and the EUR 150 million Class B notes have a five-year risk period starting January 1, 2015.

The proceeds of the Notes each collateralise a counterparty contract with AXA Global Life, providing protection against excess mortality in France, Japan and the U.S. via country age and gender weighted population mortality indices.

Jean-Louis Monnier, Head of ILS Europe at Swiss Re Capital Markets, comments: "We are pleased to provide continued support to AXA Group's strategy in accessing capital markets. This transaction is the largest excess mortality issuance since 2007 and breaks new grounds in terms of structure and risk. AXA Global Life and Swiss Re jointly developed an innovative trigger which more flexibly captures mortality events occurring in any one year or across two calendar years. Moreover, the Class B expands the boundaries of the ILS excess mortality market to higher loss probabilities." 

The transaction utilises a putable note, issued by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and underwritten by Swiss Re Capital Markets, as collateral for each Class.

This placement is the sixth ILS transaction sponsored by an AXA Group subsidiary and the second covering excess mortality since the 2006 USD 450 million Osiris issuance.

Swiss Re Capital Markets acted as lead structuring agent and joint bookrunner.

Standard & Poor's has published a rating of BB+ (sf) for the Class A notes and BB (sf) for the Class B notes.

The Benu notes were sold pursuant to Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws; they may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject, to the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

The use of insurance pooling networks to finance employee benefits is a concept that is still in its infancy in Asia Pacific. However, new research conducted by Towers Watson (NASDAQ: TW), a leading global professional services company, found there may be significant savings to be gained from the use of these financing solutions — global companies that operate multinational pooling arrangements were found to generate annual average returns of 6.1% of paid premiums.

Towers Watson’s 2014 Multinational Pooling and Benefit Captives survey analysed 753 multinational pooling reports from 151 international companies containing US$2.4 billion of premiums. It found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of multinational pools returned positive dividends. The research also revealed top-performing multinational pools produced a significant proportion of the returns with over a quarter (28%) producing dividend returns in excess of 10%.

Multinational pooling combines a company’s group insurance contracts for employee benefits in different countries under one financing arrangement to create savings through economies of scale. Sources of these economies of scale include risk reduction and administrative efficiencies.

Rajesh Daswani, senior consultant at Towers Watson in Asia Pacific, said: “With operational cost reduction and synergies still very much at the top of the corporate agenda, multinational pooling is an increasingly popular way for companies to use their global spending power to achieve savings, and at the same time, spread the risk of their employee benefit plans across multiple geographies and business areas.

“This signifies an untapped opportunity for Asian multinationals, especially those in expansion mode. Leveraging an organization’s size in financing its employee benefits can reap considerable cost savings with little downside risk.”

The research also uncovered the wide discrepancy in performance between different countries, with profitability levels for Indonesia and the Czech Republic hitting 36% and 33% of premium, respectively. In Asia Pacific, Japan and Malaysia also figure in the top 10 most profitable countries globally as shown in the table below. Only six countries around the world failed to produce positive average returns from multinational pools with Hungary (-36%) producing the worst results, along with Australia (-15%), Canada (-11%), Singapore (-9%) and China (-1%).

“The country results provide powerful insights for organizations that want to actively manage their pools and determine what insured risks to allocate into the pool to maximise financial returns. This is true globally but also regionally, with three markets in Asia Pacific included in the top 10 most profitable countries. Of the six unprofitable countries in the world, three countries are in Asia Pacific,” said Daswani.

“Almost all countries produce surpluses overall, but what is very interesting is that the average life-only contract result is 23% while the average for medical is -8%. This suggests companies need to consider very carefully whether to pool stand-alone medical contracts, or absorb potential losses from medical contracts should they occur. If they choose to pool, they will need to consider a number of factors including past claims experience; current local country medical cost inflation; proposed premium levels; and the existing diversity of risks and premium within the pool,” said Daswani.

International SOS and Control Risks are providing evacuation assistance to member organisations with expatriate employees in Yemen.
 
The evacuation assistance follows the recommendation from International SOS and Control Risks for member clients to evacuate any remaining staff from the country. 
 
The triggers for advising evacuation were: The commencement of international military action, the expansion of the conflict to most urban centres, the further breakdown of law and order in some cities, and the consequent severe reduction of availability of healthcare services.
 
“Our role is to enable organisations to do business in challenging or remote locations whilst meeting their duty of care to their employees,” said Julian Moro, Regional Security Director, International SOS and Control Risks. “Operating in a country like Yemen requires careful management of medical and security risks to employees.”  
 
Air travel out of Yemen is very limited with infrequent flights occurring on short notice and only with government approval. Most overland routes are subject to significant security threats. International SOS and Control Risks advised members to stand fast in secure locations and be prepared to move with 30 minutes notice whilst preparations were made for the evacuations. As Yemen is classed as Extreme within the International SOS and Control Risks travel safety rating, member clients were prepared to respond, or had already taken their staff out of Yemen.
 
International SOS and Control Risks began issuing daily analysis on the situation in Yemen to their clients following last week’s initiation of the Saudi Arabia-led Operation Decisive Storm. Client communications and response actions are being led by the International SOS Regional Security Centre in Dubai.
 
Organisations that had staff in Yemen included energy, construction and telecommunications companies.
 
International SOS and Control Risks advise clients to defer all further travel to Yemen until further notice. They have advised against non-essential travel to Yemen since 2012.
 
Members with concerns about developments in Yemen can contact one of the 27 International SOS assistance centres. Detailed and regularly updated travel security information is available to members through the Members Zone at www.internationalsos.com  and via the International SOS assistance app. 

The major European reinsurers have posted very strong full-year results for 2014 and continue to be well capitalised, with underwriting results that have been profitable owing to the absence of sizeable natural catastrophes and ongoing reserve releases. The reinsurers also show a continued focus on capital management, resulting in share buy-backs and increased dividend payments, as well as repurchasing and replacing existing hybrid debt.

In a new Best’s Special Report, titled, "European Reinsurers Post Strong Performances but Growth Limited," A.M. Best analyses the full-year financials for Lloyd’s and the four largest European reinsurers – Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re and SCOR SE. The report also identifies trends among the six listed (re)insurers operating at Lloyd’s – Amlin, Beazley, Brit, Catlin, Hiscox and Novae.

The report notes that the quest for yield is leading to an adjustment in investment portfolios, although London Market companies remain more conservative. "The largest four reinsurers and Lloyd’s have posted good investment results, with returns on investment (ROIs) of between 2% to 4.6% in 2014," said Carlos Wong-Fupuy, senior director, analytics. He added: "These are encouraging given the low interest rate environment; however, A.M. Best observes that returns are being driven partly by historical fixed interest investments, which are still generating relatively high yields, and realised gains on equities and real estate."

The major reinsurers all enjoy strong capitalisation, as measured by A.M. Best’s proprietary capital model, Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), yet still achieve a strong return on capital and surplus. As yields are at record lows in other economic sectors, investors remain attracted to the reinsurance market.

According to the report, reinsurers face challenges as soft market conditions persist and concerns mount regarding the sustainability of reserve releases. Catherine Thomas, director, analytics, said: “Organic growth is limited, with rates remaining under pressure and certain lines of business underperforming, leading to a need to underwrite risks more selectively. Reinsurers are seeking opportunities for expansion into emerging markets and new lines of business.”

Reinsurance rates and terms and conditions are under competitive pressure from alternative capital, as evidenced by the 1 January renewal period. In A.M. Best’s opinion, further price reductions are likely. Traditional and alternative capacity remains plentiful and a single large catastrophe is not expected to have a significant impact on current market conditions.

Yvette Essen, director, industry research, Europe & emerging markets, noted: "Major losses combined with a sustained recovery in interest rates could reduce the sector’s attractiveness to alternative capital. However, the exceptionally low yield environment is expected to continue with any increases in interest rates likely to be gradual. Furthermore, alternative capital is increasingly provided by pension funds rather than opportunistic investors, which may be less likely to reallocate their investments given that insurance-linked securities represent only a relatively small proportion of their substantial asset portfolios."

To access a complimentary copy of this report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=235301

Aviva plc (“Aviva”) announces the following senior appointments subject to the completion of the all-share acquisition of Friends Life by Aviva.

This announcement follows Aviva and Friends Life shareholders’ approval of the transaction on 26 March 2015. It is expected that, if the Guernsey Court sanctions the Scheme on 10 April 2015, the transaction will complete on 13 April 2015.

Aviva announced in December that Andy Briggs, the current CEO of Friends Life, will become CEO of the enlarged Aviva UK & Ireland Life business*.

David Barral, the current CEO of Aviva UK&I Life, will be leaving the Group at the end of May. Whilst we have been working with David to identify potential options to retain him within the Group, he has decided that now is the right time to move on with the next stage of his career.

Mark Wilson, Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “I would like to thank David for his distinguished service to the Group. David has had a successful career with Aviva spanning 16 years. Over the last three years, David has been a member of the Group Executive and has been a great partner during Aviva’s turnaround. We all wish him well as he pursues the next chapter.”

UK & Ireland Life leadership team:

John Lister, CFO UK & Ireland Life and Group Business Development Officer*: Because of the significance of the UK Life business to the Group, John will move from his role as Aviva’s Group Chief Risk Officer to lead the finance function in the UK&I Life business. John will also retain a Group remit in Business Development, supporting Tom Stoddard, Group CFO. John will continue to be a member of the Group Executive. This appointment would be effective from 1 July 2015 to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

Other senior appointments include:

• Clive Bolton, MD Retirement
• Andy Curran, MD Corporate and Business Solutions
• Rob Barker, MD Strategic Partners and Protection
• Stephen Shone, MD Aviva Plus 
• Jonathan Moss, combined capital planning
• Rosie Harris, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer 
• Kevin Moss, Chief Operating Officer 
• James Ward, Strategy Director
• Ceri Connolly, Acting HR Director
• Kim Clarke, HR Integration Director
• Rob Houghton, UK CIO

Andy Briggs said, "The UK Life senior management team we have announced today has the experience and ambition to make the most of the considerable opportunities in the vibrant UK life and pensions sector.”

Other group appointments

Following on from these appointments, there are a number of other changes across the Group that will take effect when the deal is completed:

• Angela Darlington, Group Chief Risk Officer*: Angela will move from her role of CRO of Aviva’s UK&I Life business to lead the Risk function at Group level. Angela will join the Group Executive and report to Mark Wilson. This appointment will be effective from 1 July 2015.
• Clifford Abrahams, CFO Aviva Investors*: Clifford will move from his role as CFO of Aviva’s UK&I Life business to lead the finance function in Aviva Investors. Clifford is in an ideal position to take on this role given the breadth of his experience across GI, Life and investment banking. This appointment will also be effective from 1 July 2015. Patrick Neville, the current CFO of Aviva Investors will leave the organisation and Aviva would like to thank Patrick for his contribution. 
• John Van Der Wielen, Executive Chairman of Friends Provident International, which provides savings, investment and protection products for expatriates and local nationals in Asia and the Middle East, will report to Chris Wei from 13 April 2015 to support the early stages of the integration. As previously agreed, John will be leaving the Group on 1 July 2015.

Further information on the UK Life senior management appointments:

• Clive Bolton, MD Retirement: Clive, currently the MD for Retirement Solutions at Aviva, will become responsible for the combined retirement business as we continue to meet our customers’ needs following the UK budget changes.
• Andy Curran, MD Corporate and Business Solutions: Andy, currently UK CEO for Friends Life, will be responsible for the combined corporate and business propositions. This includes all business to business and Employee Benefit Consultant relationships and will lead on Group Pensions, Bulk Purchase Annuities and Group Risk activity.
• Rob Barker, MD Strategic Partners and Protection: Rob, currently Strategic Partnerships Director for Aviva, will take on the combined Strategic Partnerships business across UK&I Life and GI, and the coordination of IFAs and key accounts across the combined Life organisation. Individual protection business will also report through this role and Louise Colley, currently Aviva’s UK Life Protection Director, will become the Protection Director for the combined individual protection book.
• Stephen Shone, MD Aviva Plus: Stephen, currently MD of Aviva Plus, will look after the enlarged UK Life business closed product lines. 
• Jonathan Moss, currently CEO Heritage at Friends Life, will work with Andy Briggs and John Lister, utilising his expertise to develop the combined capital management plan for the enlarged UK Life business.
• Rosie Harris, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer: Rosie, currently Group CRO for Friends Life, will lead the enlarged UK&I Life Risk and Compliance area. 
• Kevin Moss, Chief Operating Officer: Kevin will become the COO of the enlarged UK Life business, and will continue to lead the integration of the two Life companies. Given our desire to move at pace with the integration, Rob Barnett, currently COO for Friends Life, will stay on for six months after which he will leave the business. Rob has made a significant contribution to the Friends Life organisation and most recently supported the integration planning and delivery. 
• James Ward, Strategy Director: James, currently Group Strategy Director for Friends Life, will be responsible for the development of combined UK Life strategy and the Life external communications team.
• Ceri Connolly, Acting HR Director UK & Ireland Life: Ceri, the current HR Director for Aviva’s UK Life business, will be the acting HR Director responsible for HR and internal communications in the enlarged Life business. 
• Kim Clarke, HR Integration Director: Kim, the current Group HR Director at Friends Life, will lead the HR stream for the global integration delivery.
• Rob Houghton, UK CIO: Rob, currently Aviva’s UK CIO, will continue supporting both the UK GI and UK Life businesses with a specific focus on the IT plans for the combined Life business while we map out the longer term UK Life transformation agenda.

* Appointment subject to regulatory approval.

Cigna TTK Health Insurance a joint venture between U.S. based global health service leader, Cigna Corporation (NYSE:CI), and Indian conglomerate TTK Group, today announced the launch of  its second, Lifestyle Protection product- Accident Care.

Accident Care is available to retail customers in three options- Basic, Enhanced and Comprehensive with a sum insured ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 10 crore.

Speaking on the launch, Sandeep Patel, CEO and Managing Director, Cigna TTK Health Insurance Company Limited said “It is imperative to be prepared for adversity arising due to uncertainties in today’s evolving world. It is our aim to work together with our customers, to understand their unique needs and deliver on those needs.  Lifestyle protection products from Cigna TTK are designed to assure financial support through life’s ups and downs. It’s our endeavor to keep the products simple, convenient and comprehensive. Accident Care is uniquely designed to offer benefits and value for money, to our customers.”

Earlier, Cigna TTK also launched Critical Care, as a part of Lifestyle Protection product suite. This policy is available in two variants – Basic Plan and Enhanced Plan. 15 basic critical illnesses will be covered under basic plan and 30 under the enhanced plan. Cigna TTK – Critical Care offers a sum insurance ranging from 1 Lac to 25 crores. The minimum age to take this policy is 18 and the maximum age is 65 with a lifetime renewal facility. It is topped with a unique facility that allows our customers access to Cigna’s Global Network across 80 Countries and over 10,00,000 network hospitals at network rates to avail treatment for the diagnosed Critical Illness.

Talking about Critical Care, Mr. Patel said, “With growing sedentary lifestyles, changing environmental factors and high stress levels in the country, lifestyle diseases are becoming more and more prevalent.  Critical Care is designed to cater to the growing concerns of lifestyle diseases and the high medical costs associated with them. The product is also designed to complement indemnity medical products.”

“We intend to offer a comprehensive health insurance portfolio to all our customers. Both Accident Care and Critical Care are fixed benefit products which strengthens Cigna TTK’s suite of health insurance products offered in the market.” he added.

All Cigna TTK products offer immediate access to Cigna TTK’s online wellness program- ProActiv Living, to all policy holders, offering customers Health Risk Assessment, Targeted Risk Assessment and Lifestyle Management Programs to improve their lifestyle.

In addition, the policy holder is also entitled for tax benefit under section 80D as per Income Tax act.

Hannover Re (Ireland) Limited, a Member of Hannover Re Group, announces receiving federal and provincial licensing to operate as a life and health reinsurer in Canada.

The branch will offer mortality risk management; insurance based financial solutions; longevity; group life and special risk solutions to direct carriers in Canada.

Chief Executive Officer, Hannover Re (Ireland) Limited, Ms. Debbie O’Hare, announces the appointment of Mr. Amhlaoibh Lynch as General Manager of the Hannover Re (Ireland) Limited Canadian Life Branch (Canadian Life Branch). The Canadian Life Branch is based in Toronto, in a common location with Hannover Rück SE Canadian Branch (operating as P&C Branch in Canada since 1980) at 220 Bay Street.

“Through my career I have had the pleasure to work with Hannover Re on a number of occasions and always admired its client focused approach and embodiment of its 'Somewhat Different' philosophy and spirit. When I was presented with the opportunity to lead Hannover Re’s entry into Canada, it was a 'no-brainer,' and I could not be happier to represent them. Since joining Hannover Re, I have been incredibly impressed by our global capabilities and client solution oriented approach, and I look forward to leveraging the global organization to bring new ideas and innovative solutions to the Canadian market. Consistent with the Hannover Re values and goals, you can expect customer focused solutions that are unique to the Canadian market and the characteristics of our partners,” said Mr. Lynch.

Prior to joining Hannover Re Group, Mr. Lynch was with Manulife Financial since 1993, holding progressively more senior actuarial roles across various functions including marketing, pricing, product development, and asset liability management. Most recently, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Affinity Markets, Canadian Division Manulife Financial. In this role, Mr. Lynch was responsible for the oversight and financial integrity of a broad portfolio of products that encompassed Mortality, Morbidity, Property & Casualty and financial risks.

In addition, he was a member of the business management team and was an adviser to the general manager on a variety of strategic initiatives. Finally, he led the financial analysis and was a key participant in two strategic acquisitions. As General Manager of the Hannover Re (Ireland) Limited Canadian Life Branch, Mr. Lynch will be responsible for developing and implementing the Hannover Re Group’s strategy to bring reinsurance solutions to life and health clients in Canada.

“With nearly three decades of experience in the Canadian life market and a proven track record of leadership success at Manulife Financial, Amhlaoibh brings an unsurpassed depth of knowledge to Hannover Re as we enter this new market,” said Ms. O’Hare.