Long-serving Bermuda insurance stalwart and former XL Capital chief operating officer Henry Keeling has landed one of the top jobs at reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter & Co. LLC.

Mr. Keeling, who first joined the Island's insurance market at Mid Ocean Re in 1993, will take up his new post as president and chief executive officer of international operations at the company on August 1 and will be responsible for its operations in the UK, continental Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and Bermuda.

He will also oversee Guy Carpenter's marine and energy, aviation and retrocession businesses globally as chair of the company's international board and report to Peter Zaffino, president and CEO of Guy Carpenter, as well as joining its executive committee. "Henry's executive experience at a senior and global level and his reputation in the industry are tremendous. "

Mr. Keeling, a Briton, started his career in London and spent 19 years in the Lloyd's and the London market as an underwriter and broker. He joined Mid Ocean Re 16 years ago and, prior to the firm's merger with XL, was president and chief operating and underwriting officer. Mr. Keeling held the position of chief executive of global reinsurance operations for XL from 1998 to 2005 and was appointed chief operating officer in 2006, a role he fulfilled until 2008. He retired from XL in August last year, having driven the company's property and casualty and life reinsurance segments, but had previously expressed his disappointment at not being chosen to replace Brian O'Hara as CEO, with Mike McGavick getting the nod over him last year.

Mr. Keeling was named (Re) insurance Person of the Year by the Bermuda Insurance Institute in 2007. Most recently, he was an operating partner of Stone Point Capital LLC.

"Through much of my time in the industry I have been a market for Guy Carpenter, a client and sometimes even a competitor," said Mr. Keeling. "I have always admired their professionalism.