Zurich office to further her career in reinsurance underwriting.

In 1987 she graduated from the University of Western Ontario, Canada and on returning to the Island, recognised the opportunities for a young Bermudian entering in the international business sector and the importance of obtaining a professional qualification.

In 1994 Ms Aicardi was hired as an assistant underwriter at PartnerRe and, while working full-time, was able to obtain her ACII designation through study at the Bermuda Insurance Institute and at The College of Insurance, Kent, England.

"The international experience that will come with this relocation will be invaluable to Cathy's continued career development at PartnerRe, providing her with new challenges and learning opportunities,'' said a spokesperson for the company.

PartnerRe has 16 offices worldwide and stresses that it places a high value on providing employees with international exposure.

"Cathy has received valuable training in Bermuda and abroad to develop her skills and become an integral part of the catastrophe underwriting team,'' a company spokesperson said.

"She spent six weeks in the Zurich office in 1996 studying contract wordings, technical catastrophe underwriting procedures, rating techniques and worked closely with an experienced research team.

"This exposure gave her the confidence and disciplined underwriting experience at a very early stage in her career, and led to her promotion to underwriter.'' After a four-month stint Ms Aicardi returned to Zurich to enhance her marketing capabilities of catastrophe reinsurance in Latin American and Caribbean countries. In Zurich, she was also exposed to some of the company's other underwriting disciplines including property, marine, aviation and engineering.

*** ACE SUBSIDIARY TO LAUNCH NEW SERVICE BUC ACE subsidiary to launch new service ACE Global Markets (AGM) a subsidiary of Bermuda-based insurance giants ACE Ltd., has announced plans to launch a dedicated claims service for solicitors in the UK.

Starting September 1 2000, solicitors will be able to purchase the first layer of their compulsory professional indemnity cover from the open market.

A Press release cited AGM as one of the first insurers to be approved by the Law Society to provide professional indemnity cover under the new open market arrangements. The policies will be led and underwritten by Syndicate 2488 via traditional brokers and AGM's service company, Ace Underwriting Services Ltd.

The service to AGM policyholders will be provided by a Hammond Suddards Edge/AGM joint venture, Solicitors Practice Protection Ltd. (SPPL). SPPL's administration and broking suite will be based in Lloyds.