Rising Star Francesca Lines
The Acrisure Re AVP first started at the company as a student during her vacations and moved into a full-time job on graduating.
Francesca Lines is an assistant vice president at reinsurance broker and intermediary Acrisure Re where she was introduced to re/insurance as a summer intern. The 26-year-old credits the mentorship she received from the Bermuda team for her progress in the company.
Give us a snapshot of your career to date
I joined Acrisure Re’s office in Bermuda in January 2020 as an account manager after graduating from university. We have a small team in Bermuda which has given me the opportunity to work across multiple lines of business, including property retro and ILW, parametric, property and casualty reinsurance, private debt insurance, life and annuity reinsurance, and cyber reinsurance. Working with a smaller team also means that at times we have to be quite flexible and wear multiple hats, which keeps the role exciting.
How did you come to choose a career in re/insurance?
Growing up in Bermuda, re/insurance is the dominant industry and so I’ve always been aware of this as a potential career path with lots of opportunities. It was then during my university years that I became curious to learn more about the industry and I spent a couple of summers interning with Acrisure Re (then Beach). I found the work engaging and enjoyed the people I was working with, so when I was asked to join full-time after graduating, I immediately accepted.
What makes the re/insurance industry attractive to young professionals?
Re/insurance is a robust and global industry – it offers young professionals a relative amount of job security as there will always be a need for insurance, and there is also the opportunity to travel and live abroad which is attractive to young people. There is also ample opportunity to grow professionally within a range of different professions, from broking, underwriting, actuarial, software development, marketing, journalism, and more. Importantly, senior management generally places significant focus on developing the careers of their young professionals which fosters a very positive learning environment.
What are the opportunities and challenges you’ve faced?
I’ve faced plenty of challenges and opportunities over the last four years, however most recently I’ve had the opportunity to travel to London on a four-month secondment and work in various departments within the Acrisure network which has been an incredible experience. I started with the London reinsurance broking teams and then spent several weeks with Acrisure’s in-house M&A team, learning about the acquisitions Acrisure International has made in recent years. I’ve faced many challenges throughout this experience, from living in a new city, to working in different markets, meeting many new people, and working on lines of business which I hadn’t had much exposure to beforehand.
Was there someone who inspired you or acted as a mentor in your career?
I’ve been lucky in my career to be surrounded by great people both within Acrisure Re and in Bermuda who have supported me and have been wonderful to learn from as they have a wealth of industry experience. In particular, I have learned so much from my team in Bermuda about the business and they have been instrumental in my career development. They have also taught me a lot about being patient and persistent and always upholding a positive attitude, which is particularly important when it comes to challenging negotiations!
What differences does your generation bring to the industry?
I think my generation brings a unique perspective in that unlike other generations, we have grown up in a digitally enabled environment where information is more accessible than it has perhaps ever been. Moreover, much of this development has occurred over the last couple of decades so it’s a generation that has grown up in a rapidly changing environment. As a result, the younger generation may bring a more flexible and tech-focused approach to risk management and be more open to innovation than generations before.
Is the industry welcoming to younger people?
Yes, very. As mentioned above, one thing that really stands out in the re/insurance industry is the active involvement and genuine interest from senior management in the development and growth of their younger people. There is strong sense that knowledge and skills need to be passed down from one generation to the next and those new to the industry need support from senior management for companies to grow and innovate.
If you had chosen a different career, what would it have been?
In addition to Economics, I studied English Literature during my university years and have always had an interest in reading and writing. If I hadn’t chosen a career in re/insurance, I probably would have pursued a career in this field, perhaps as a journalist or a publisher.
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