What’s New: In Brief (July 10, 2008)

RSA is offering a second term of its Making Partner Program in January 2009.
The program has been designed in conjunction with the Executive Development Centre at Queen’s School of Business to provide customized senior management leadership and business skills to RSA brokers.
Those selected show a high potential for senior management and aspire to “make partner” one day in their brokerages.
Sixteen RSA and CNS brokers from across Canada were selected for the first run of the program, which began with a week-long executive education course at Queen’s on June 8.
Seventeen brokers have been selected for the second run of the program, due to begin in January.
“We were very impressed with the number of high-calibre applicants we received,” says Shawn DeSantis, RSA’s senior vice president of personal and commercial insurance. “These are people who are the future leaders of our industry.”

Stefan Lippe has been appointed as deputy CEO, assuming the function of chief operating officer of Swiss Re, effective Sept. 1, 2008.
Lippe will succeed board director Andreas Beerli, who has announced his intention to retire in mid-2009 after 20 years at Swiss Re.
“Andreas Beerli contributed successfully to the development of Swiss Re as a leading and highly diversified global reinsurance firm,” Jacques Aigrain, CEO of Swiss Re, says in a press release. “His leadership of the very successful integration of GE Insurance Solutions over the last two years deserves special mention.”
Lippe, currently head of (re)insurance products and member of the executive committee, has 25 years of experience in reinsurance at Swiss Re.
Brian Gray will become chief underwriting officer, join the executive committee and report to the CEO.
Currently head of property and specialty underwriting, Gray will ensure the continuity of Swiss Re’s underwriting standards and focus on quality and selective underwriting as a priority.