Reinsurance broker and risk adviser TigerRisk Partners has hired former Willis Capital markets chief executive officer Tony Ursano as its new president.

With more than 28 years as an investment banker focused on the insurance industry, Mr Ursano has been involved in more than 125 debt, equity and ILS capital offerings as well as more than 100 mergers and acquisitions.

Mr Ursano was CEO of Willis Capital Markets and Advisory where he built an insurance-focused investment banking business. He began his career at Donaldson, Lufkin, and Jenrette and subsequently worked for SG Warburg, Merrill Lynch, and Banc of America Securities where he was global head of the Financial Institutions Group for nine years before being named vice-chairman in 2008.

Former RenaissanceRe CEO Jim Stanard, the chairman of TigerRisk, said he was delighted to hire Mr Ursano.

“I have known Tony for over 20 years — many of those years as a very satisfied client,” Mr Stanard said.

“Our focus is to provide creative risk management solutions and advice to our clients. Reinsurance, capital, risk control and innovative ideas are the tools we use to accomplish this. Tony brings us world-class capability in capital markets solutions as well as the vision to fully integrate these tools for our client’s benefit.”

TigerRisk CEO Rod Fox said: “Tony has a deep understanding of what clients need and the ability to find the optimum way to achieve it. With his many years of insurance industry and investment banking experience, key industry relationships and outstanding reputation, we know Tony can deliver on these goals.”

TigerRisk has an office in Bermuda, but Mr Ursano will be based in New York.