AIG has appointed Gero Michel to a new role that will see him heading up risk analytics across the reinsurance related brands of Validus, Talbot and the ILS specialist unit AlphaCat.

Michel took on the role of Head of Risk Analytics, AIG Re in February of this year, joining the insurance giant from his most recent role with broker Aon’s reinsurance department.

Michel’s role for AIG Re will see him tasked with helping the reinsurance activities within Validus, Talbot and AlphaCat ensure capital is optimised and opportunities between them are maximised.

That will include a focus on the creation of new insurance-linked securities (ILS) product strategies and opportunities within the group, which will likely be managed by the AlphaCat ILS unit, we understand.

Michel’s most recent role was with Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions as Head of  UK and EMEA Analytics, He joined Aon from Chaucer, where he held a Managing Director and Senior Treaty Underwriter role covering its European operations, with responsibility for analytics, underwriting and parametric solutions.

Prior to that, Michel was the Chief Risk Officer and Head of Risk Analytics for now defunct Bermuda reinsurer Montpelier Re, before which he worked at broker Willis in product development and as Managing Director for the Willis Research Network.

Michel has also held positions at re/insurer Endurance, risk modelling firm RMS and reinsurer Hannover Re in his roughly twenty year career in the sector.

Michel’s expertise in reinsurance related analytics as well as data-driven risk transfer product design, will assist AIG as it establishes the best use of third-party capital within its business and synergies that will benefit its AlphaCat ILS unit.