Head of Ceded Reinsurance in Birmingham

Who Are We? Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 170 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration.

What Is the Opportunity? We are currently recruiting for a Head of Ceded Reinsurance to join our team based in London on a full time permanent basis. The Head of Ceded Reinsurance leads Travelers Europe's ceded reinsurance strategy and relationships, with oversight of the analysis, placement, management, and optimisation of reinsurance programmes. Working closely with European Leadership and underwriting management, the role shapes and refines risk appetite and reinsurance strategy, ensures appropriate programme structure recommendations are made, and that placement is executed effectively. Drawing on deep reinsurance expertise, strong relationship-building skills, and executive presence, the role drives day-to-day treaty placement activity, provides thought leadership on long-term placement strategy and other critical reinsurance matters, and builds robust internal and external networks. This role has direct line management responsibility.

This role is a Key Function holder within the Senior Manager and Certification Regime (SM&CR) as set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), and is subject to the rules and regulations of the relevant regulators. Fitness and Probity (F&P) will be assessed — and certified where required — both on appointment and annually thereafter. Post-holders are required to abide by the Conduct Rules at all times. Our leaders in regulated roles champion Travelers' culture and are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment.

In addition to this job description, the successful candidate will receive a Statement of Responsibilities (SoR) outlining their specific accountabilities, along with any applicable mandatory prescribed responsibilities. Travelers Europe currently offers flexibility to employees who wish to work on a hybrid basis in accordance with our Hybrid Work Arrangements Policy. This entails full time employees working three days a week in the office and two days at home (or pro rata for part-time employees). This policy may be changed at the Company’s discretion.

What Will You Do?

• Strategic Leadership & Innovation: Develop and execute the overall ceded reinsurance strategy, aligned with corporate risk appetite and business objectives. Lead the design and structuring of treaty and facultative reinsurance programmes across all lines of business, driving best-in-market structures that differentiate the company and meet strategic goals. Provide thought leadership and strategic guidance to senior leadership on reinsurance market conditions and opportunities, and on how reinsurance can influence business strategy. Ensure reinsurance solutions support enterprise growth, profitability, and capital optimisation.
• External Relationship Management: Establish and maintain key broker and reinsurer relationships to secure optimal market access and competitive terms, building strategic partnerships with top-tier reinsurance markets globally. Manage broker expectations and timelines for assigned placements, coordinating materials and meeting with and presenting to reinsurance markets. Represent the company at industry events, reinsurance market meetings, and, where appropriate, on reinsurance industry panels. Where appropriate, appoint brokers and engage in joint strategic planning to align on objectives and market opportunities, keeping reinsurers updated on plans and developments.
• Internal Relationship Management & Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with underwriting, actuarial, finance, risk management, and capital management teams to ensure alignment and deliver group objectives. Communicate proactively with business units, demonstrating a thorough understanding of primary coverages and underwriting strategies. Propose ideas and solutions to portfolio challenges above and beyond renewal placements, leading management strategy decision meetings and advocating for the best option. Communicate reinsurance strategy and results effectively to diverse stakeholder groups, building consensus and driving execution of group-wide initiatives.
• Reinsurance Programme Management & Treaty Negotiation: Oversee the placement and renewal of treaty and facultative reinsurance agreements, ensuring optimal protection while managing cost efficiency. Independently negotiate pricing, coverage, exclusions, terms, and conditions with reinsurance markets to obtain the best terms for the company. Coordinate the preparation of reinsurance submissions and gather the information required from brokers.