Industry heavyweights back Catlin's Pandemic Re initiative

Industry heavyweights like Allianz’s Jon Dye, Aon's Julie Page, Marsh's Chris Lay and Chauver's Paul Jardine, among many others have joined Stephen Catlin's newly launched Pandemic Re initiative, which will work with the UK government to propose a collective response to future pandemics.

The Pandemic Re Steering Committee, which was formed earlier in April, has formed a new project committee and six working groups.

More than 50 representatives from brokers, insurers, reinsurers, management consultants, data modelers, the medical profession and academia have been allocated to work streams, while a further 65 volunteers have come forward. Furthermore, the Corporation of Lloyd’s has agreed to provide resources to two of the work streams.

The project committee, which will include a diverse group of industry experts to undertake with predetermined areas of responsibility, will be chaired by Michael Dawson.

The six working groups are: Customer Engagement and Distribution, chair – Julie Page (CEO Aon UK), deputy chair – Chris Lay (CEO Marsh UK & Ireland); Technical Insurance, chair – Steve Coates (CUO Pool Re); Modelling and Data, chair – Paul Jardine (chairman of Asta and Chaucer); Scheme Structure-Operating Models, chair – Michael Dawson (Nuclear Insurance); Pandemic Preparedness and Mitigation, chair – William Marcoux (senior corporate lawyer); Legal, Regulatory and Government Affairs, chair – Amber Rudd (former senior politician).

The project committee will also include Martin Hattrell, formerly senior corporate lawyer at Slaughter and May.

Jon Dye, chairman of ABI and CEO of Allianz Insurance, is the latest industry leader to join the Steering Committee, which is chaired by Stephen Catlin, chairman and CEO of Convex, and other members including Maurice Tulloch, CEO of Aviva; Stephen Hester, CEO of RSA; Julian Enoizi, CEO of Pool Re; Nick Frankland, UK CEO Reinsurance Solutions, Aon; James Nash, CEO, International, Guy Carpenter; and James Kent, CEO of Willis Re.

Catlin said: “The Steering Committee has made considerable progress by identifying working groups and business leaders to direct them as well as helping to determine the detailed activities for each work stream. I would like to thank all these volunteers for giving their time to this project.”

Dawson added: “We have a significant task ahead although we have received enormous levels of industry support. The insurance industry is collaborative by nature and with this highly experienced group, we hope to be able to deliver a structure in a relatively short time frame.”