QBE Re unveils new structure as Postlewhite eyes ‘untapped’ potential

QBE Re has restructured its global reinsurance business under the stewardship of its managing director Steve Postlewhite as it looks to better reflect current market dynamics, it said.

QBE Re will now coordinate the underwriting of all of its products, Property, Casualty, Accident & Health, Specialty, and Life reinsurance, across all locations in which it operates.

A number of senior executive changes were also announced. Peter Wilkins has been appointed to the newly created role of chief underwriting officer, QBE Re. In his new role he will take ownership of underwriting performance, strategy, and planning. He is based in London and will continue to report to Steve Postlewhite.

Its offices in London, New York, Dubai, Bermuda, and Europe (Brussels and Dublin) will continue to be led by a general manager who is responsible for strategic development, growth initiatives and delivery of the P&L in each location, working closely with the CUO and Global Product Leaders. In the case of Bermuda, this is Tracey Gibbons, who joined from SiriusPoint last September.

As part of the new structure, a global product leader has been appointed for each of QBE Re’s lines of business, reporting to Wilkins. These are: Paul Horgan, head of Property, QBE Re; Tim Barber, head of Casualty, QBE Re; Simon Parkinson, head of Accident & Health, QBE Re; Shane Lawlor, head of Specialty, QBE Re; and Bruno Guelle, head of Life, QBE Re

Postlewhite said: “We continue to see considerable growth opportunities across the products that we offer. Our new structure will enable us to deliver on our strategic ambitions for sustainable growth. Our aim is to create a QBE Re that is easier to do business with and creates a more consistent experience globally for our clients as our teams work more collaboratively across all of our offices. QBE Re is a strong business but in order to achieve our aspirations we need to continue to adapt and evolve to meet changing client’s needs. This is a critical step in that process.”

Postlewhite added: “There is a huge amount of untapped potential in QBE Re and we believe that with the right culture, structure, and operational approach, QBE Re can succeed among the biggest and best in the market. We are reorganising ourselves in a way that is recognisable to the market and brings the parts that make up QBE Re into one cohesive whole to act as clients expect. As a connected business we will be able to change the way we trade and engage with brokers and clients. We will enter such conversations with confidence – proud of our proposition and approach.”