RenRe invests in newly launched Griffin Highline led by Michael Doak

Bermuda-based RenaissanceRe Holdings is an initial investor in newly formed private investment firm Griffin Highline Capital that has been launched by its senior executive Michael Doak.

Doak, president of RenaissanceRe Ventures US and the portfolio manager of the direct investments equity portfolio, will be departing the company to start his new investment firm focused on the insurance industry.

Doak has served in various leadership roles at entities associated with RenaissanceRe since June 2010. He is said to have executed all of the RenaissanceRe acquisitions and divestitures, including the $1.9 billion Platinum Re and $1.5 billion Tokio Millenium Re acquisitions. Prior to RenRe, he was an investment banker in the Financial Institutions Group at Morgan Stanley & Co.

Griffin Highline has been launched by Doak, as chief executive officer, managing partner and co-chairman, and Robert Alpert, who will serve as a founding partner and co-chairman.

Alpert was the founder and portfolio manager of Atlas Capital Management, a long-short strategy investment adviser, from 1995 to 2015. He is also the co-founder and principal of 210 Capital and the former chairman and CEO of Globalscape. Additionally, he serves as co-CEO and chairman of the board of P10 Holdings, an alternative asset management investment firm.

Kevin O’Donnell, chief executive officer of RenaissanceRe, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Michael over the years. As he transitions to this new opportunity, we thank him for his ongoing efforts and look forward to participating in his future success as an initial investor in his new firm.”