Captive management may not be the first career path young Bermudian students immediately think of when they start off in the world of big business.

But for Philippe Froncioni, a student at Dalhousie University and Marsh employee, it has proved a big success — helping him to make his first step on the career ladder and to decide what profession he wants to do in the future.

Mr. Froncioni started the programme at Marsh's Technical Centre of Excellence in Halifax, Nova Scotia in December 2008 and has never looked back since, set to complete the third of his three-month co-op terms this summer.

For the 21-year-old Bermudian, the Marsh programme was his first foray into the corporate world and his first taste of insurance, but proved to be an opportunity he took quite literally with both hands.

"I am still at a point where I have got my feelers out there and when Marsh said they had got a position for me and would love to have me here I decided to join them because I just want to experience as many different things as I can," he said.

Having studied at Saltus Grammar School and moved to Bishop's College School in Quebec at the age of 14, Mr. Froncioni then enrolled in a Commerce Co-Opt with a Major in Finance.

He decided to take up the co-op programme, which runs in December, autumn and the summer during his four-year degree, and got in contact with Marsh before the first part of the programme to inquire about taking part and was subsequently hired by the company.

In his captive associate role, Mr. Froncioni reported to Marsh's insurance and finance managers, including senior vice-president Lawrence Bird and office manager John Walabyeki in Marsh Captive Solutions' Bermuda office, working on month-end and quarterly filings and in other areas, such as bank reconciliations.

And he reckons his best experience was getting exposure to what it is like to work in the real world for a professional company.

"The best part was just getting on the inside of one of the leading insurance companies on this Island and getting a feel for holding a position like this and the opportunities available to you," he said.

Despite his father working as a surgeon and his mother being in the food and drink industry, Mr. Froncioni was instantly attracted to business and wants to work on the international stage in the future.

"At the moment, I am looking at the accounting side and what Marsh offers in terms of supporting you financially and assisting you work towards getting a designation is a big help," he said.

"I have now worked in both the Halifax and Bermuda office and both offices have a great team members to work with and for someone like me who has little experience, to go into an office like that where they welcome you with open arms and teach you everything you need to know is a great experience.

"After this year and following graduation in May 2010, I need to start making plans for the future — I will probably want to travel a bit and then start working towards a designation or join the rat race.

"My goal is to get out of Bermuda for a while and gain experience overseas, and this programme has really helped me to do this already through some of Marsh's offices around the world, before bringing the skills I have learned back to Bermuda, where companies are looking for young Bermudians who are knowledgeable about what they are doing and there are many great opportunities to get into international business."

Growing up in Bermuda has certainly whetted his appetite for joining the international business arena, and Mr. Froncioni, who cites golf, fishing and fine food and wine as his main interests outside of work, hopes that fellow Bermudians will take advantage of what is on offer as they start to pursue their chosen career path.

"It is an amazing experience and opportunity and Marsh is definitely very open to taking on willing young Bermudians interested in that field," he said.

"It also benefits them to get people into their business and mould them at an early stage, while, as a student, to start so early on at such a big company as a very good experience.

"It was great to feel like you are really contributing as part of a team and you are producing work of value and it is being reviewed and you are receiving feedback on a regular basis."

Marsh currently has five captive associates, two administrative associates and one Halifax student. The company also created an administrative associate role for Bermudians who do not have a degree and are interested in getting into the captive management business.

Marsh launched its Captive Associate Programme in November 2008 to recruit more Bermudian employees to the company and attract graduates and undergraduates who want to work towards an internationally-recognised accounting or insurance designation while employed in the captive insurance industry.

To apply to join the Marsh Captive Associate Programme or to find out more about it contact Sarah Randall on 299-8845 or sarah.randall@marsh.com and for the Halifax Co-op Programme contact Kaela Keen at kaela.keen@marsh.com">kaela.keen@marsh.com