XL Catlin introduces unit for Africa Risks

XL Catlin has opened a reinsurance unit to provide facultative and treaty reinsurance across Africa.

Alex St James has been appointed as head of Africa for XL Catlin’s reinsurance operations, managing the team. The insurer has also appointed Matthew Gillies as an actuarial underwriter, they will both be based in London.

“Africa is a varied and complex collection of frontier and developing markets, generally rich in resources and increasingly home to international companies,” said David Watson, XL Catlin’s chief executive, EMEA, reinsurance.

“Traditionally there has been a lack of insurance penetration across the continent, but this is changing and we believe we have a part to play as reinsurance capacity will further drive the development and growth of the primary insurance market.

“We believe our global expertise, A+ rated security combined with Alexander’s prior experience positions us ideally to serve this growing market.”

St James joins XL Catlin from One Re, where he was responsible for gaining UK regulatory approval for and bringing that company to the market in 2015.

Prior to One Re, St James held a variety of senior managerial roles in underwriting and previously worked across Africa with the Global Alliance group of companies in Mozambique, Angola and Ghana.

Gillies also previously worked with One Re and prior to that, he held the position of graduate pricing analyst at Covea Insurance. According to XL Catlin he has 'significant experience' in capital modeling, risk management, Solvency II, pricing and investments.