The "world's most important" insurance conference is set to go ahead in February, organisers announced yesterday.

The Bermuda Insurance Symposium V - this year entitled: 'World Insurance Forum: Market Leaders Speak' will be held from February 19-22 at The Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel

The forum will be one of the first broad-based gatherings of senior executives involved in the international insurance and reinsurance industries following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.

The Market Leaders Panel featuring Insurance, Reinsurance, and Broker CEOs has been expanded to a full morning followed by a strong customer panel to allow for an in-depth discussion of the state of the world's insurance/reinsurance markets. Feature sessions through the event have also been reconsidered in light of recent devastating losses.

XL Capital Ltd. Director Michael Butt who is moderating the first panel said: "The market leaders panel is especially important this year as the entire industry, including markets, customers, brokers, rating agencies and the press, are eager to hear opinions directly from industry leaders concerning the implications of recent world events. Clearly the world of risk has changed dramatically and insurance buyers and sellers world wide will be most interested in hearing first hand the issues facing them".

The World Insurance Forum confirmed the participation of several of the world's most influential insurance/reinsurance industry leaders for the opening panel, to be moderated by Michael Butt, Director of XL Capital Ltd. Panellists include: Joe Brandon - Chief Executive Officer General Re Corp, Nick Prettejohn - CEO Lloyd's of London, Jeff Greenberg - Chairman & CEO Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., Jacques Blondeau - Chairman & CEO SCOR, Brian Duperreault - Chairman and CEO ACE Limited, Bernie Hengesbaugh - Chairman and CEO C.N.A., Paul Ingrey - Chairman & CEO Arch Reinsurance Ltd., Jim Stanard - Chairman, President & CEO Renaissance Re Holdings Ltd., and Alice Schroeder - Insurance Analyst Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

The Market Leaders Customer Panel, immediately following the opening panel, will be moderated by Dennis Mahoney, Chairman & CEO of AON Limited and include: Judith Hanratty, Company Secretary British Petroleum, Chris Treanor, Managing Director Marsh Inc., Stacey Regan, Deputy Treasurer General Electric Company, Sheila Small, Assistant Treasurer Verizon, and Chris Duncan, Director Risk Management Delta Airlines.

Steering Committee Chairman Robin Spencer Arscott, noted: "The World Insurance Forum has evolved over the years to become a very important platform for insurers, reinsurers, brokers, customers, analysts and the media to forecast the future. The Market Leaders Panel will set the tone through the course of the event. The quality of our opening panel speaks to the importance of Bermuda's role in the world marketplace and of having this open discussion during these uncertain times."

The Bermuda Insurance Symposium is the host of the World Insurance Forum. First held in 1993, the event is sponsored by the industry for the industry on a "not-for-profit" basis. It is a biennial event and a forum for world insurers, reinsurers, risk managers, financiers, and intermediaries to discuss issues of critical importance facing the industry.

Event listings and online registration is on the web at: www.bis.bm.