RenaissanceRe Announces ESG & Climate Roles
RenaissanceRe Holdings announced “key appointments that advance its Environmental, Social, and Governance [ESG] strategy and further the Company’s industry-leading understanding of climate risk.”
A spokesperson said, “RenaissanceRe’s purpose is to protect communities and enable prosperity, which is reflected in an ESG strategy centered on promoting climate resilience, closing the protection gap, and inducing positive societal change.
“In furtherance of this strategy, Kevin J. O’Donnell has accepted the role of chair of ClimateWise. ClimateWise, acting in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, brings together reinsurers, insurers, brokers and industry service providers to promote a systematic response to climate change across the financial system.
“In addition, RenaissanceRe announced several key roles at the Company focused on ESG:
- “Harriet James has been promoted to VP, ESG Strategy within the Corporate Strategy Team, responsible for managing and progressing RenaissanceRe’s ESG strategy across the Company, including identifying and managing ESG priorities and driving the development of new sustainability initiatives.
- “Cathal Carr, SVP, Underwriting, has been named Global Head of Climate and Sustainability Strategy, responsible for designing, executing and coordinating RenaissanceRe’s climate and sustainability underwriting strategy across both Property and Casualty and Specialty segments. This includes leading the development of new products and tools to respond to emerging underwriting opportunities.
- “Jeffrey Manson, SVP, Underwriting and Head of Global Public Sector Partnerships, will report to Mr. Carr and manage public sector partnerships, with a focus on responding to climate change and reducing the protection gap in emerging risk classes.”
Kevin J. O’Donnell, President and Chief Executive Officer of RenaissanceRe, said, “Climate change is one of the most complex challenges faced by the world and our business. As a reinsurer, we believe that we play an important role in managing climate risk while helping facilitate the transition to a lower carbon economy. I am honored to chair ClimateWise and look forward to working with leaders across our industry and the University of Cambridge to strengthen our collective response to this important issue.”
Mr. O’Donnell continued, “I am pleased with the progress we have made furthering our ESG strategy. This is an area of focus for all of our stakeholders, including many of our employees, and I look forward to the passion and contributions that Harriet, Cathal and Jeff will bring to this critical part of our business. I am confident that they will continue to progress RenaissanceRe’s role as a positive force for change.”
