Bermuda reinsurer Validus Re has hired former Arch Re chief underwriting officer Jim Franson in a lead role in the company’s US operations.

Mr Franson will take the newly created position of president of Validus Americas, the US-based managing general agent which underwrites on behalf of Validus Re’s Swiss reinsurance company.

He will be responsible for expanding Validus Re’s domestic US reinsurance strategy, including the development of a casualty reinsurance business operation. Mr Franson will be based in the New York City metro area, and will report to Jeff Clements, chief underwriting officer at Validus Re.

Before joining Arch Re, Mr. Franson served as Treaty Manager for a specialty reinsurance subsidiary of General Electric and additionally he was responsible for D&O, E&O and other specialty reinsurance products for Odyssey Re. He also worked at Marsh & McLennan and Alexander & Alexander in various management positions and locations including New York, London, Baltimore and Washington DC.