PartnerRe names replacement CEO for North America life

PartnerRe has hired a new chief executive officer (CEO) for its North America life business, with Alan Ryder, who currently runs the business, set to retire on August 31, 2021.

Chris Shanahan will step into the role of CEO for North America life. He is currently president of US life, and takes up his new post on September 1, 2021.

Ryder raised $500 million and launched Aurigen, a North American life reinsurance company which PartnerRe acquired in 2017. He has led PartnerRe’s life and health operations in North America for over 10 years, in which time he developed a Canadian franchise and drove growth in the US business.

André Piché, president of life and health in Canada, will become CEO for that business, also on September 1, 2021. He will report to Shanahan.

Shanahan joined PartnerRe in May 2018 as executive vice president of corporate development for US life. He was appointed president of US life operations in July 2019. Before joining PartnerRe he was executive vice president of mortality solutions and corporate marketing at Hannover Re in the US, with responsibility for managing the traditional life reinsurance business, including business development, operations and marketing.

Shanahan will report to Marc Archambault, CEO for the life and health business at PartnerRe, and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Archambault said: “I am confident that under [Shanahan’s] leadership our Canadian business will continue to thrive and that we will be successful in further developing our US franchise by delivering on our commitment to provide our clients with value, and shareholders with attractive returns.”