McGill and Partners has announced two senior leadership appointments to reinforce its presence in Bermuda’s reinsurance market. Julia Henderson (pictured, left) has been named partner and chief executive officer of the Bermuda business, while George Cantlay (pictured, right) will assume the additional role of president. The appointments are subject to regulatory approval.
The London-headquartered specialty insurance and reinsurance broker said the move underscores its investment in Bermuda and its strategic focus on the region’s growth opportunities.
According to a news release, Henderson brings more than two decades of experience in casualty, specialty and property reinsurance, including expertise in both traditional reinsurance and insurance-linked securities (ILS). She has previously held senior roles at RenaissanceRe, Nephila Capital, PartnerRe, Brit Insurance, and Peak Capital. McGill and Partners said her background aligns with its ambition to offer “innovative, efficient, and regulatory-compliant risk transfer solutions.”
Cantlay, based in London within the firm’s global treaty reinsurance team, takes on the Bermuda role in addition to his current responsibilities. As president, he will oversee the production and placement of reinsurance across multiple business lines. He joined McGill in 2020, has held roles including head of broking strategy since 2022, and brings previous experience from Aon’s global client treaty team.
According to McGill and Partners, the expanded leadership structure reflects the company’s efforts to grow its specialty reinsurance broking services in Bermuda.
“I’m delighted to welcome Julia to McGill and Partners, joining the Bermuda team alongside George as he takes on his new position,” said Steve McGill, founder and CEO of McGill and Partners. “These appointments will continue to strengthen our ability to serve clients with the precision, agility and insight they’ve come to expect – positioning us at the forefront of specialty reinsurance broking.”
The appointments come amid broader shifts in Bermuda’s reinsurance landscape. According to a report from The Financial Times, by the end of 2024, US life insurers had transferred more than $1 trillion in liabilities offshore – primarily to Bermuda – raising regulatory scrutiny and new oversight measures on capital adequacy and transparency.
In response, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) proposed enhanced disclosure requirements for life insurers and annuity providers, requiring annual reporting of detailed investment holdings. These measures aim to improve market discipline and reassure international regulators.
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