Willis Re appoints Eckert CEO

Willis Re has appointed Neil Eckert as CEO, with the reinsurance and capital markets veteran set to lead the firm’s global broking and advisory strategy.

Eckert (pictured) will join Willis Re after completing his current contractual obligations, the reinsurance broker said.

He joins from Conduit Re, which he co-founded in 2020 and has led as CEO since 2025.

His appointment adds to the number of experienced reinsurance industry executives joining Willis Re as the brand returns to the market.

For this year’s RVS issue cover story, GR editor David Benyon spoke to Jim Summers, CEO of global specialties, and John Fletcher, CEO of Willis Re Bermuda.

Eckert brings around 40 years of experience across reinsurance, insurance, capital markets and technology.

He began his career as a reinsurance broker at Benfield Group in 1986, becoming a board member two years later.

In 1995, he founded Benfield & Rea Investment Trust, which raised capital to support Lloyd’s and insurance company underwriting capacity and was later relisted as Brit Insurance Holdings.

Eckert served as founding CEO of Brit until 2005 and remained a non-executive director until 2008.

He also co-founded Climate Exchange in 2005 and has established or chaired a number of businesses in the environmental and climate risk sector.

More recently, Eckert co-founded Conduit Holdings, raising $1bn in what Willis Re said was then the largest IPO of a start-up on the London Stock Exchange.

Lucy Clarke, board member of Willis Re, said: “He is one of the most experienced, entrepreneurial, driven and technologically astute people in our industry.”

She added: “His career is grounded in the reinsurance industry, but also spans insurance broking, capital, technology and climate ventures, as well as founding and scaling businesses across public markets and private ventures.

“That breadth of perspective is exactly what our clients and trading partners need as the market continues to evolve.”

Eckert said: “Having spent my career on both the broking and capital sides of this industry, I understand what clients and markets need from a broker: technical excellence, capital insight, and the imagination to apply technology to genuinely improve outcomes.

“I look forward to working with the team to build on Willis Re’s momentum and to deliver for our clients, colleagues and shareholders,” he added.