Lockton Re has hired Médéric Borde in Paris to lead a new European practice focused on the life reinsurance market, expanding the broker’s footprint in continental Europe.
Borde previously held roles at KPMG, Towers Watson and MACIF, and most recently worked at Onepoint as a partner.
The appointment follows the opening of Lockton Re’s Paris office in April. Keith Harrison, international CEO of Lockton Re, said the office launched under “Michel Fontaine as CEO, Jean-Francois Delon as chairman, and Fabien Ramaharobandro as chief technical officer” and has built a local team focused on specialty and property-casualty lines.
Harrison said the Paris operation now “numbers 11 brokers and analytics professionals” and that Borde will be “our 12th team member in Paris.” He said Borde will “head our new life reinsurance business across Europe” and will also contribute experience in capital management.
Michel Fontaine, CEO of Lockton Re Paris, said the firm plans to position the expanded office alongside capabilities in other parts of the business.
“Coupled with Lockton Re’s global Retro, Capital Markets, Capital Advisory and Specialty class capability this expansion will give us the ability to offer clients a full deck of world class reinsurance expertise and capital related solutions across France and continental Europe,” Fontaine said.
Fontaine cited the life insurance market in France as a reason for the move. “The life insurance sector in France is significant and we are keen to work with clients and prospects to help them manage their strategy and capital in this area,” he said.
The Paris buildout comes as Lockton Re has been adding senior roles tied to analytics and client solutions across its network. In November, the firm appointed Mozum Khan as global head of property innovation and solutions in Dubai.
Tim Gardner, global CEO of Lockton Re, said the company views France as a market for continued investment. “France is another exciting and significant investment for Lockton Re,” Gardner said.
Gardner also pointed to competition dynamics in the region. He said Lockton Re sees openings “in a marketplace that hasn’t had the level of reinsurance broker choice that exists in some other parts of the world.
The company has also been expanding its platform for delegated and program business, linking London-market capacity with demand from other regions.
Earlier this month, Lockton Re launched a London-based unit focused on securing capacity for North America MGA business, as part of a broader portfolio solutions effort aimed at connecting clients with carriers “on either side of the Atlantic” and in other international markets.
