Aon Benfield Securities appoints two MDs

Aon Benfield Securities, the investment banking division of global reinsurance intermediary Aon Benfield, has appointed two new senior advisers.

Robert James and Michael Pedraja join the division as managing directors, reporting to Paul Schultz, chief executive officer of Aon Benfield Securities.

Based in Chicago, they will complement Aon Benfield Securities’ capital markets capabilities, advising its insurance, reinsurance and private equity clients on a broad array of strategic advisory assignments, including mergers and acquisitions, insurance and reinsurance company formations, and capital raising initiatives.

James served most recently as a managing director for Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, where he was responsible for strategic advisory, and mergers and acquisitions advice.

He has 30 years of insurance industry experience, both as an insurance company executive and as an investment banker.  He has worked for many of the sector’s leading companies including Allstate, MetLife, AIG, Countrywide and Grange Insurance.

Pedraja joins from Barclays, where he was a managing director focused primarily on the insurance industry. He previously worked at Credit Suisse and has more than 17 years of investment banking experience, having advised on more than 35 mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions.  He began his career as a Certified Public Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand.

“Bob’s operating and investment banking experience combined with Mike’s strategic advisory experience make them valuable additions to our firm, to the benefit of our clients and colleagues,” said Schultz.

“Aon Benfield Securities is highly committed to making continued investments in our colleagues and capabilities, in order that we can continue to provide industry-leading advice to clients globally on a broad array of strategic and capital initiatives.”