Bermuda?s development as a global leader in reinsurance can be attributed to the efforts of the Bermuda Insurance Institute (BII) in creating a local pool of talent for the industry, says insurance veteran Keith White.

Mr. White, Ace Ltd. executive officer, Bermuda companies, retires at the end of the year after serving the company for 17 years in a number of key roles and helping transform Ace from a niche Bermuda entity in to a diversified global player.

?When I first came to Bermuda the captive industry was just starting, there were only three qualified insurance professionals on the Island,? Mr. White said.

Mr. White?s insurance career spans more than 47 years and during that time he has worked in most areas of insurance and reinsurance underwriting and administration and has substantial experience from numerous mergers and acquisitions.

In 1973, Mr. White joined Bermuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company Limited as Manager International operations after working for Sun Alliance Insurance Group in the UKin various insurance positions.

In the same year the Bermuda Insurance Institute was established and he soon recognised that the organisation would play a significant role in the growth of the Island?s emerging insurance and reinsurance industry.

Mr. White served as chairman of the BII Education Committee for many years and was president of the Institute from 1986 to 1987.

?I am passionate about the BII?s learning and development efforts as well as the opportunities provided by BFIS (Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies) through scholarships to help Bermudians obtain an education and come back to the industry and make it even better than it is.

?I believe the workforce that Bermuda has developed over the years I have been here is as good as you will find anywhere in the world.?

He said BII has played a pivotal role in Bermuda?s development as one of the world?s leading insurance and reinsurance centres in providing access to training and development for Bermudians to enter the industry.

?In 1985, Bob Clements had the vision to form ACE. I joined in (January) 1990 when ACE had 25 people. Now we have 10,000 employees in more than 50 countries, including about 270 of those in Bermuda.?

When Mr. White joined Ace it was still privately owned. Since then, the company has gone public (1993), acquired several companies, including Methuen & Ockham (Lloyds Underwriting Agencies) (1996), Tempest Reinsurance (1996) and CAT Ltd. (1998).

Subsequently the ACE acquired the global property and casualty business of Cigna Corporation (1999) and grew into one of only a handful of truly international property and casualty insurance companies.

Mr. White has held a number of senior administrative positions including chief administration officer & head of global human resources and has played a key role in hiring many of the key executive appointments and bringing in key talent to help the company grow.

?One of my main focus areas was the oversight of Ace?s philanthropic and corporate giving programmes, including sponsorship in Bermuda of sporting, cultural and social activities and in particular The Ace Foundation of which I was one of the founding trustees in 1990.

?I am very proud of the commitment that Ace has made to the community through the Foundation?s philanthropic activities. I think it was important for Ace to make that commitment as we are grateful to be able to call Bermuda our home and it?s the right thing for us to do.

?At Ace we always endeavour to be good corporate citizens and our philosophy is to support the communities in which we live and do business and encourage our employees to participate in these efforts.?

Through employee matching gifts and volunteer reward programmes, educational programmes and scholarships, as well as financial support of more than 70 registered charitable organisations per year, the ACE Foundation continues to contribute to the Bermuda community.