Questionnaire

Age and Family

Born: 20 December 1976
Marital status: Married, one son
Degrees: Mathematics Graduate

Business career and professional development major stages:

• I studied mathematics and economics with a central emphasis on the insurance business at the University of Hamburg. After graduating with a degree in mathematics I joined Hannover Re in December 2001.
• I worked as an underwriter in the worldwide operating division Advanced Solutions from December 2001 to August 2007. My main geographical responsibilities for the structured reinsurance business were the United States as well as the UK.
• In September 2007 I assumed the position of Head of Underwriting within Advanced Solutions Ireland.
• Since June 2011 I am Managing Director of Hannover Reinsurance (Ireland) Ltd., the designated carrier for Advanced Solutions in the U.S. and UK.

Hobbies and Sports

Sports:
Skiing

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   Certainly connections times are prolonging travel time but luckily Dublin is well connected both to the US and the UK. However, what I really like is to wake up on a sunny morning with a nice view over the city I am staying in.
2. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   Relaxing and meeting friends and/or my family.
3. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   Music: rock & pop.
   Literature: I like novels with a historical background and thrillers.
4. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   I like to explore cities in general. The cities I found most impressive until now are Prague and New York. Otherwise, I like to spend my holidays at the Mediterranean area, especially in Greece.
5. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   A notebook (energised by a solar cell) to stay in touch with the rest of the world, a sleeping bag in case it becomes cold at night and a toolbox including a good knife.
6. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   Computer technology.
7. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   I love (nearly) all kinds of cheese and dry wine.

Questionnaire

Age and Family

Born: 10 September 1973
Marital status: Married
Degrees: Degree in Mathematics from University College Galway

Business career and professional development major stages:

• I began my insurance career as a trainee actuary in life insurance with Prudential Ireland in 1995.
• In 2001, I joined ESG Re, an accident and health reinsurer based in Dublin.
• In 2006, I joined PMI Europe, an insurer of mortgage credit risk, as pricing manager.
• In 2009, I joined Hannover Re Advanced Solutions as an actuary.
• I completed my actuarial studies with the UK Institute of Actuaries in 1999.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
In enjoy watching sport, especially Tipperary hurling team. I have recently taken up gardening with modest success.

Sports:
Soccer and cycling.

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   Meeting people on a face to face basis rather than over the phone helps to develop stronger relationships.
2. Which individual do you admire most amongst all insurers or reinsurers?
   I admire people who conduct themselves with integrity.
3. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   Spending time with my family and socialising with friends.
4. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   I like both kinds of music… Country and Western.
5. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   When the weather is fine, the west of Ireland is great. To guarantee some sunshine I often head for a beach in the Mediterranean.
6. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   Long wave radio, sunscreen and a fishing rod.
7. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   Light bulb.
8. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   I enjoy seafood and dark beers.

Questionnaire

Age and Family

Born: 29.03.62
Marital status: Married to the wonderful Finola, with 4 beautiful children Orlaith, Conor, Aoife and Thomas (recent addition May 04)
Degrees: Bachelors of Business Administration, Pace University, NY

Business career and professional development major stages:

• 1982 Joined Pan Atlantic Reinsurance Company in Galway Ireland in the technical accounts department quickly learned that back office was not the most financially rewarding or challenging department in the company.
• 1984 Spent 3 very interesting years with Mulryan and Associates, doing personnel and commercial broking, together with running the office and looking after financial affairs of the company.
• 1987 Immigrated to the US and joined Guy Carpenter NY as Trainee Broker in the North American Broking Division. Received valuable training and experience at Carpenter. During my tenure a number of people whom I reported to left the organization and as a result I gained valuable experience. One such opportunity lead me into the area of financial reinsurance.
• 1994 After 7 years in NY, Finola and I decided it was time to move home to Ireland, that’s when I joined Hannover Re Advanced Solutions. I joined as assistant underwriter to Dietmar Stenzel who was the person responsible for establishing the companies in Ireland in 1992.
• At the time I joined there were just 4 employees including Dietmar in Dublin, together with a small team in Hannover, Germany.
• During my time with HR ASI, I have become the Head of Underwriting in Dublin with a team of 9 currently which will develop and expand even further in the not to distant future.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
Coming from Ireland where virtually every person is a crazed sports fan and follower of sports, sports have played and continue to play a big part in my life. I like all sports and sporting events, particularly our National Sports, Gaelic Football and Hurling. I also enjoy watching soccer. I’m also an avid golfer, but like most in this industry it’s becoming more and more difficult to find the time to play.

Sports:
In addition to golf, I like jogging and successfully completed the 2002 NYC marathon. In May 04 along with some colleagues from the Dublin office we successfully completed the grueling Wicklow Way relay race. (75 miles)

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reassurer: What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   It generally allows personnel undisturbed time to catch up on reading and memo writing. Being away from the office because work builds up especially the administrative duties.
   
2. Which individual do you admire most amongst all insurers or reinsurers?
   In this industry it’s difficult to have one person, because people have different qualities and experience. I admire people who know what they want and stick to their game plan.
   
3. How do you normally spend the weekends at home? 
   My children are involved in a number of activities, so taking them to swimming, Irish Dancing, gymnastics and my son is involved in football and hurling which I help out with the training and coaching of his team. I also spend time catching up on chores around the house. Most of all I try to spend time with my family.
   
4. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   Any music that has good lyrics and is not too noisy, books which are easy and light to read because I don’t get a lot of spare time to read non-business related material on a regular basis.
   
5. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   I’m lucky I live in my favorite city Dublin, I think it’s a wonderful city, and I enjoy going to Galway to visit with family and friends.
   
6. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   A boat, a phone and plane.
   
7. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   Television
   
8. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   Sharing a good Sunday roast with a nice bottle of red wine and my family.

Questionnaire

Age and Family

Born: 24th May 1965
Marital status: Married
Degrees: Bachelor of Business Studies, University of Limerick

Business career and professional development major stages:

• My first experience of the Reinsurance industry was as an auditor with KPMG in Dublin where I trained as a Chartered Accountant and was involved in the audit of a number of reinsurance companies operating in the Dublin market.
• In 1993 I joined Bavarian Re Ireland as a Financial Controller as one of a very small start-up team. Here, I gained valuable experience in both structured reinsurance and in all aspect of a business start-up.
• In 1996 I joined the banking industry with Hypo Bank in Dublin as a Financial Controller. I soon realised that my interests lay outside the area of financial control and looked for an opportunity to move to a more commercial role.
• In 1998 I rejoined the reinsurance industry as an underwriter in the structured unit of Cologne Reinsurance Ireland. Here, I concentrated on the Scandinavian, South African and UK markets.
• In 2006 I joined Claret Capital (a start-up private equity firm) as CFO. This was a broad reaching role encompassing all aspects of due diligence, structuring, risk management and financial management for a diverse portfolio of investments.
• I joined Hannover Re Advanced Solutions as an underwriter in November 2009.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
My hobbies include both playing and watching all types of sports, listening to music and reading.

Sports:
I enjoy playing soccer, golf and windsurfing (when the weather allows).

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   I enjoy the chance to meet with other people in the industry in a different environment. I loathe the increasing amount of time spent at airports.
2. Which individual do you admire most amongst all insurers or reinsurers?
   None in particular, but all those who are disciplined and transparent in their business dealings.
3. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   With three small children at home the weekends are busy, particularly Saturdays which normally involves bringing them from one activity to another. Sport plays a big part and a lot of my time is spent on the sideline watching underage Rugby, Hurling, Gaelic Football and Soccer. I also try and catch up with friends and family.
4. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   I have a wide-ranging taste in music, but particularly like Rock music and singers/songwriters. I read mainly fiction, as they are light and easy to read, but also enjoy biographies and books on history.
5. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   My favourite holiday destination is Australia for an adventure holiday and the north of Majorca for a relaxing beach holiday. In terms of cities I never tire of New York and have always had a good time in Rome.
6. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   A mobile phone, my IPod and access to Sky Sports TV.
7. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   The internet.
8. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   Lobster and a good pint of Guinness.

Questionnaire

Born: 20 April
Degrees: Degree in Management Science (Dept. of Statistics) from Trinity College and ACII

Business career and professional development major stages:

• After graduating from Trinity College in June 2003, I joined Quinn Insurance (an Irish general insurance company) as part of their graduate programme, where I gained experience in various areas whilst completing my ACII.
• In October 2007, I joined Hannover Re Advanced Solutions as an Assistant Underwriter, focusing on the U.S. market.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
Reading, travelling, cooking.

Sports:
Shopping counts as a sport, right?

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer:What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   I love all travel, including business travel - it's still quite new and exciting for me. I love going to new places and meeting new people. Perhaps ask me again in 20 years time when the novelty starts to wear off a bit!
2. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   I like to see my family and meet friends (often at the pub for a pint), do a bit of shopping and generally relax. I also love getting in my car and doing a road-trip for the day.
3. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   I like a wide variety of music, depending on my mood it can range from heavy metal to more chilled out music. For literature, I like thrillers and epic novels... something tragic, where everything works out happily in the end.
4. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   Lapland for something exciting. Greek Islands for sun and amazing beaches. Donegal and Kerry (Ireland) for beautiful scenery. London or Prague for a great weekend break.
5. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   An MP3 player (with all my favourite music), sunscreen (for my very Irish skin) and a luxury yacht to take me home when I'm done.
6. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   Car.
7. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   I'm always open to try new things but just love steak with pepper sauce and potatoes, followed by a Bailey's coffee.

Questionnaire

Age and Family

Born: 12 April 1971
Degrees: Degree in Economics and French from University College Dublin

Business career and professional development major stages:

• I began my insurance career with Euler Hermes in London in 2001, underwriting trade credit insurance in the SME sector within the UK market.
• In 2004 I returned to Dublin and joined AIG's insurance management sector as an underwriting executive. My primary role was the servicing and development of clients' captive companies. It provided me with good exposure to various lines of insurance business on mainly a pan European and North American basis.
• In March 2009 I joined Hannover Re Advanced Solutions as an Assistant Underwriter dealing with the North American and UK markets.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
I'm a big music fan and enjoy going to music gigs whenever possible. I play guitar and piano (badly, but I enjoy it nonetheless!).

Sports:
I jog now and again in an effort to keep fit. I enjoy most sports really and like to watch soccer.

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy most and what do you loathe?
   It's good to be able to deal with people on a face to face basis rather than just over the phone and helps to develop stronger relationships. Dealing with time difference can be tiring.
   
2. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   Normally socialising with friends and family.
   
3. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   I have a wide variety of taste in music ranging from Irish folk music to rock to the better quality pop. Reading-wise I enjoy keeping up with current affairs. Nick Hornby is one of my favourite authors.
   
4. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   The west of Ireland has some beautiful landscapes and coastal views and is always a nice place to go and relax. As a contrast, I enjoy the bustle of the bigger cities such as London or New York.
   
5. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   A sail boat, a fishing rod and a rain water collector.
   
6. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   The combustion engine.
   
7. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   A nice pint of Guinness!

Questionnaire

Degrees: BA (Hons) Accounting and Human Resource Management from National College of Ireland, C.I.P. (Certified Insurance Practitioner), currently studying towards ACII.

Business career and professional development major stages:

• During school and college I worked as an administration assistant in Norton Insurance Brokers in my home town.
• After graduating from college and travelling/working abroad for a year, I began working in the commercial department of O’Driscoll O’Neil Insurance Brokers, Dublin. I worked here for over 2 years developing knowledge of both personal and commercial insurance policies.
• In 2008 I started in the Technical Accounts Department of QBE Reinsurance Europe Ltd. Here I worked between the reinsurance claims, underwriting and finance departments building up and developing my knowledge of reinsurance and the reinsurance industry.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
Travelling, socialising, watching rugby, reading

Sports:
Tennis, tag rugby, football.

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy the most and what do you loathe?
   Have yet to experience it, but look forward to it.
2. Which individual do you admire most amongst all insurers or reinsurers?
   Anyone who shares their knowledge and works ethically.
3. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   Watching rugby, meeting people, playing sports and relaxing.
4. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   Music: Anything from Arcade Fire to ZZ Top. Except, of course, ZZ Top. As to literature, I mainly enjoy reading non-fiction.
5. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   Edinburgh for a weekend, Kuala Lumpur as a hub for South East Asia, Sydney to live, Canada to visit and the United States for a holiday.
6. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   Laptop, tent, sombrero.
7. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   The internet.
8. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   Massaman Curry and Heineken...

Questionnaire

Family

Marital Status: Married
Degrees: Degree in Bachelor of Business and Legal Studies from UCD and ACII.

Business career and professional development major stages:

• Upon completion of my degree I worked for Allianz Insurance (Ireland) Ltd in their Property Claims Department.
• My next position was in HSBC Insurance (Ireland) Ltd, working between the Claims and Underwriting Departments.
• I later transferred to HSBC Reinsurance Ltd and worked in Business Development and Underwriting.

Hobbies and Sports

Hobbies:
Travelling and going to the theatre.

Sports:
Cycling and karate.

Questions and answers

1. Business travel as a reinsurer: What do you enjoy most and what do you loathe?
   I enjoy meeting new people and see business travel as a great opportunity to develop a long-term relationship with colleagues and clients. I dislike waiting for delayed flights.
   
2. Which individual do you admire most amongst all insurers or reinsurers?
   I admire leaders who inspire their colleagues and encourage progressive thinking.
   
3. How do you normally spend the weekends at home?
   At the weekend I like to spend time playing with my young nephews and meeting up with my friends and family.
   
4. What is your personal taste in music and/or literature?
   I like rock and pop music and enjoy reading crime novels.
   
5. Which are your favourite cities/holiday destinations?
   I enjoy city breaks, especially Venice, Paris and Trier. However, my favourite city is my home town, Dublin.
   
6. If you were banned to a remote island, which three items would you take with you?
   I would bring a copy of "Robinson Crusoe" and my laptop to watch the dvd box set of "Lost".
   
7. What is the most important technical invention of the last millennium?
   The telephone.
   
8. What is your preferred drink and/or meal?
   Italian food and South African wine.