Sompo International Holdings Ltd, the Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, has appointed Windy Lawrence as the new general counsel.

Ms Lawrence will report to Chris Gallagher, chief executive officer, Sompo International Commercial P&C, and join the executive leadership team.

The company said that John Del Col will be retiring at the end of the year as general counsel after nearly 20 years with Sompo International and its predecessor company.

Based in Sompo International’s New York City office, Ms Lawrence has 20 years of corporate legal experience, most recently as the head of legal, corporate and strategic transactions for a global, commercial insurance organisation.

She has held multiple legal and regulatory roles and was responsible for the transformation and operational, legal and regulatory integrations of leading organisations.

She has also led legal and compliance teams supporting life insurance, property and casualty insurance and broker-dealers, the company said.

A native of New York, Ms Lawrence is active in community and civic affairs, including recent service on the board of trustees of The Brooklyn Music School.

She is also a recipient of the 40 Under Forty Achievement Award by The Network Journal, a monthly print and online business magazine for African American professionals and business owners.

Mr Gallagher, the CEO of Sompo, said: “We are very excited to welcome Windy to our team. She is a proven leader and all-around great person who will make an immediate impact at Sompo International.

“I would also like to thank John Del Col for all his incredible contributions to Sompo International. I’ve known John for my entire tenure here and have been privileged to count him as a valued, trusted colleague and as a friend.”

John Charman, executive officer, Sompo Holdings, added: “Although I’ve recently transitioned my role at Sompo International Holdings to James Shea, I wanted to welcome Windy and congratulate John Del Col.

“John has long been a much-valued colleague as well as a friend. His candid ‘no-nonsense’ advice lies at the very heart of our significant achievements as an organisation over the last eight years. I wish him every bit of happiness in his much-deserved retirement.”

Ms Lawrence said: “I am proud to join Sompo International and to be able to work with this world-class executive leadership team, as well as with the outstanding professionals in Sompo International’s legal, compliance and regulatory teams.

“I am also thrilled to join a company that is built on strong values including integrity, collaboration and accountability, and I look forward to achieving success as the company moves forward on its journey to becoming a Top Ten global insurance organisation.”