Willis Re launches global life reinsurance practice

Willis Re has launched a global life reinsurance practice, following the appointment of Christian Howells as the broker’s head of life reinsurance.

The reinsurance broker said the new practice will provide independent life reinsurance advisory and broking services globally.

Willis Re said it would support organisations including life insurers, reinsurers, and pension and annuity providers.

The reinsurance intermediary said the launch reflected growing demand for risk transfer, capital management and balance sheet optimisation solutions in a more complex market environment.

The practice has been established as a strategic collaboration with WTW’s insurance consulting and technology business.

Willis Re said the collaboration will provide analytical and consultancy resources across mortality, morbidity, longevity and pension risk transfer solutions.

Its capabilities will include traditional and structured reinsurance transactions, funded and capital-motivated reinsurance, portfolio structuring, in-force risk management, advanced analytics, pricing support and strategic risk transfer advice.

Howells recently joined Willis Re from Macquarie Asset Management, where he was head of international insurance solutions for the Australian investment firm.

Before that, he spent more than 16 years at Schroders, holding senior leadership positions serving global insurance clients and leading insurance solutions initiatives across Asia Pacific.

Howells said: “Life insurers are operating in a market defined by capital pressures, regulatory change, longevity risk and accelerating product innovation.

“The new life practice is designed to support clients beyond the transaction itself, bringing together market insight, analytical rigor and strategic advice to help clients capitalize on market opportunities and strengthen their overall business performance. As companies look for innovative ways to manage risk, unlock capital and adapt to a changing market, our role as a trusted and technically differentiated reinsurance broker is key,” he continued.

Duncan Briggs, senior managing director in WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business, added: “What truly differentiates this new offering is the depth of actuarial expertise and analytical capability it brings to the market.

“By combining WTW’s Insurance Consulting and Technology business’s advanced modeling, data-driven insights and transaction experience with Willis Re’s broking platform, we are creating a proposition that is genuinely unrivalled, enabling clients to take more informed decisions, optimize capital and unlock value across increasingly complex portfolios.”