An insurance industry veteran who was recently named the Michael J. Kevany/XL Visiting Professor in Insurance and Actuarial Science Practice at the School of Risk Management of The Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University was in Bermuda last week to build ties between the school and the Bermuda insurance industry.

Albert J. Beer recently retired as executive vice president of both American Re-Insurance Company and the American Re Corporation (now Munich Re America), following a 33-year career including service as Chief Actuary for Skandia America Group and Partner with Tillinghast, a division of Towers Perrin.

One of Mr. Beer’s functions will to be work with SRM’s Executive Director, Dr. Ellen Thrower, in building and strengthening SRM relationships and partnerships in Bermuda, where Mr. Kevany was chief executive officer of XL in its early days.

He will also teach graduate courses in the financial operations of insurance companies, and undergraduate actuarial science courses at SRM.

An XL spokeswoman said Mr. Beer met last week with eight representatives from the Island’s secondary schools and Bermuda College to discuss ways in which he can work with them and help to recruit young Bermudians to strive towards a career in insurance/actuarial studies.

“Mr. Beer will be visiting the Island again soon and going directly to the schools to talk to students and potentially teach some courses,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr. Beer also visited the Bermuda College to sign a letter of articulation.

During his visit, Mr. Beer said that while international (re)insurance companies have an increasing need for local resources on the Island, they are impressed with the progress that has been made so far in this relatively young market in training and developing Bermudians working in the industry.