Women in the boardroom – and introducing 100 Women in Reinsurance Group

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Mairi

Very recently, I spoke to one industry executive who said that he did not think that men and women could ever work effectively together in the insurance industry – although plenty of women work in his global insurance business. To say I was not surprised is an understatement.

That said, in the same week, I met another CEO who is striving to have a 50/50 split of men and women in his busniess to avoid the testosterone-charged decisions being made. He says he is still a long way off, but he has a goal in mind. Continue reading →

Monte Carlo here we come

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Mairi

It is that time of year again, when the good and the great of the reinsurance world head to Monte Carlo for the annual Rendez-Vous. Bermudians and Americans will already be winging their way across the Atlantic, while most BA flights from London and Zurich on Sunday contain most of the worlds’ reinsurance brains in one metal vessel – wonder what the risk assessment for that would be… Continue reading →

Watch out – here comes Hurricane season

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Mairi

Hurricane Ike 2008

The start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1 never really meant that much to me until I went to live in Bermuda and within the first month became glued to the weather reports as swirls of clouds spun slowly towards this unprotected dot in the middle of the Atlantic.

As it came nearer, I was surprised by the ferocity of the winds bending and stripping the trees, the swell that turned the turquoise ocean to dark muddy water, the rip currents that pulled the sand from under your feet and made you retreat from the water’s edge quickly. Continue reading →

Who to follow: insurance and reinsurance businesses in social media

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Mairi

Happy Easter, one and all. After a few days off, I’m back at work, ploughing through my to-do list, which includes writing this blog following the Easter break.

I was going to look at the risk/rewards of social media in our world, but I will leave that harder subject for next week – and ease myself in with a short list on who to follow, look out for and, quite frankly, copy. Continue reading →

It’s not rocket science… Social Media and insurance and reinsurance

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Mairi

I had a busy week last week in Bermuda, with the excellent World Insurance Forum, a breakfast briefing on social media for international business, and helping organise, PR and co-chair Reinsurance Magazine’s Bermuda Reinsurance Club. I managed to zip around on a moped for a while, re-living my youth, but did not make it to swim with the dolphins again – next time when the wind is not so high.

The World Insurance Forum was video cast, so if you were not there, you can watch it. Some really good sessions to watch if you are stuck in an airport with an iphone and some time to spare – very modern and 2.0 of WIF to record the sessions. And there was lots of great coverage of the Bermuda Reinsurance Club both before the event (well, I am a PR person…) and after…with cover in Bernews, four stories in The Royal Gazette (the best two linked here) and The Bermuda Sun. Continue reading →

Forums, Social Media and Reinsurance Clubs… all in sunny Bermuda

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Mairi

I’ve got a busy week ahead. I’m off to Bermuda for a week on Sunday and have a hectic schedule. Not only is the World Insurance Forum on, with a dazzling array of top CEOs on show, with its associated lunches and dinners, but the week is stacking up with other events too.

First of all, on the quest to enlighten all those who will listen, I’m holding a breakfast briefing for International Business on Monday morning (March 15) on how they can use social media. International Business is the term used in Bermuda for companies that are domiciled there but do not do business with the locals, so it is the likes of Renaissance Re, AXIS,Arch, Endurance, Ariel Re…. there are quite a few of them. Anyhow, I’m on a mission with Goldgerg Segalla’s top blogger and LinkedIn master Dan Gerber, to show all who are willing to listen in a room in BUEI that social media can be for grown ups – and can be used in a corporate way. Thanks to @MunichReAmerica and @RiskDebate (Zurich) for calling it a “must attend event” on Twitter. Continue reading →

March Madness – reinsurance and insurance conferences a go-go

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Mairi

I’m dusting off my conference gear this week as March is going to be packed globe full of reinsurance-relevant conferences – so if you need to work up your air miles, here is a guide to the best on this month.

This list takes you from Qatar, to Bermuda, to Arizona, to Dublin – a nice round of geographies and subjects being covered. Continue reading →