Reinsurance start-up Mereo has strong Bermuda connections
The start-up reinsurer helmed by market veteran Brian Duperreault has a decidedly Bermudian flavour.
Mr Duperreault, who was born on the island, is the cofounder and executive chairman of the board of Mereo Insurance and Mereo Advisors, which have launched with the support of Susquehanna Private Equity Investments LLP, The Andover Companies, and Ares Management Alternative Credit funds.
The insurance industry stalwart is a former boss at AIG, Hamilton Insurance Group, Marsh McLennan and Ace.
However, he’s not the only executive in the C-suite at Mereo with Bermuda connections.
The strongest link can be claimed by Bermudian Jonathan Reiss, who has come aboard as the interim chief financial officer of Mereo Advisors and Mereo Insurance.
Mr Duperreault and Mr Reiss formerly worked together at Hamilton Insurance Group, the former as chairman and chief executive, and the latter as president, strategic partnerships and group chief financial officer.
Mr Reiss remains a managing director at Strategic Risk Solutions and leads the SRS Bermuda office.
He also led EY’s insurance practice for Bermuda, Bahamas and Cayman.
Neil Strong is president of Mereo Advisors and Mereo Insurance and chief executive of Mereo ILS. He is a former executive at Securis Investment Partners, where he established and managed the organisation’s Bermuda office.
Richard Holden is the deputy chief underwriting officer of Mereo Insurance and the chief underwriting officer of Mereo ILS. He was formerly chief underwriting officer of Fidelis Insurance Bermuda and global chief executive of reinsurance and capital management. He also served as head of North America insurance and reinsurance and sat on the Fidelis Insurance Bermuda board.
Derek Walsh has joined the organisation as chief legal officer and chief operating officer of Mereo Advisors and Mereo Insurance. Most recently, he was chief operating officer, general counsel and cofounder of Acacia Holdings, a Bermudian-based investment business.
Federico Waisman is the chief analytics and risk officer at Mereo Insurance. He formerly served as SVP and head of analytics in the London office of Bermudian-headquartered Ariel Re.
The Mereo leadership team also features cofounder, chief executive and chief underwriting officer of Mereo Insurance, David Croom-Johnson, and Lawrence Minicone, who has joined as chief executive of Mereo Advisors and chief investment officer of Mereo Insurance.