Bermudian Laura Davis has been promoted to senior vice-president and head of catastrophe, Bermuda, at PartnerRe as part of a string of changes at the reinsurance company.

Ms. Davis steps up from the post of senior underwriter and research manager, Bermuda, having joined PartnerRe in 2001 as an underwriter for its US catastrophe portfolio.

More recently, her responsibilities have extended to managing the Bermuda-based catastrophe modelling analysts. In her new role, she will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Bermuda catastrophe team, and becomes a member of the catastrophe management team.

Meanwhile, Brian Secrett, moves up from senior vice-president, and head of reinsurance operations, Bermuda, to chief underwriting officer for catastrophe, effective the start of next month.

Mr. Secrett joined PartnerRe as an underwriter in 1994. With more than 20 years of underwriting and market experience in catastrophe reinsurance, he will oversee the underwriting for the catastrophe team worldwide. He will continue to be based in Bermuda, reporting to Ted Dziurman, head of catastrophe.

Mr. Secrett succeeds Willi Schürch, who will be retiring at the end of November 2008, after 26 years in the reinsurance industry. Mr. Schürch joined PartnerRe as a catastrophe underwriter at its formation in 1993, and played a key role in PartnerRe becoming a top catastrophe reinsurer.