Former Validus CEO and PartnerRe head join Enstar’s StarStone

StarStone, the specialty insurance subsidiary of Bermuda-based Enstar Group, has appointed industry veterans Ed Noonan and Dick Sanford as chairman and president, respectively.

Noonan is the former CEO of Bermuda re/insurer Validus Group, and has over 30 years of industry experience. Under his leadership, Validus was acquired by AIG in 2018. Noonan was president and CEO of American Re from 1997 to 2002, and before that worked at Swiss Re.

Sanford, who will oversee StarStone’s global underwriting and reinsurance strategy as president, was previously the chairman and president of PartnerRe US, head of P&C North America. Sanford has 35 years of insurance market experience and began his career as a casualty underwriter at AIG in 1984. He has since held senior roles at TIG Re/Odyssey America Reinsurance, Cologne Reinsurance Company of America, and PartnerRe.

Furthermore, Chris Rash has been promoted to CEO of StarStone International and deputy group CEO. He joined StarStone in August 2018, and has over 20 years of industry experience, having held numerous financial and operational leadership positions, including 15 years at RSA, and as group CFO at MS Amlin.

“This is a pivotal moment for StarStone,” said John Hendrickson, group CEO. “As we reposition StarStone to deliver profitable growth, Ed and Dick bring a wealth of knowledge. Their respective contribution, together with Chris’s financial and operational expertise, will prove invaluable as we continue to provide highly professional, bespoke specialty solutions to our clients, locally and globally.”