Bermuda-based RenaissanceRe Holdings has just announced the retirement of the company’s CEO, Neill Currie.Mr Currie, who cofounded the company in 1993 and served as its chief executive since 2005, will retire on July 1 of this year. Kevin O’Donnell will succeed him as CEO and will join the company’s board of directors. As part of the transition, Mr Currie will continue in an advisory capacity to the company through the conclusion of his contract in February 2014.Mr Currie retired from the company once before in 1997, but returned in July 2005 as an executive vice president to oversee the firm-wide marketing and client relations activities as well as lead the specialty underwriting business.In November 2005, he assumed the role of chief executive officer of RenaissanceRe Holdings and became president and CEO in 2008. He has served as a director of the company since November 2005.Mr O’Donnell joined RenaissanceRe in 1996 as an International and Ceded Reinsurance underwriter and has served in positions of increasing leadership since that time. Mr O’Donnell previously served as pesident of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd since 2012, global chief underwriting officer since 2010 and president of Renaissance Reinsurance Ltd since 2005.In his various roles, Mr O’Donnell has managed all of the company’s reinsurance operations, had responsibility for direct insurance operations, including at Lloyd’s, and supervised all assumed risk across the enterprise, including the company’s ventures unit. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Hamilton College and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.Ralph Levy, Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, commented: “The board gives Kevin our full support in his new role as CEO. He has already proven himself as an outstanding leader at RenaissanceRe and in the market. Kevin is both ready to assume his new responsibilities, and the right person for the position.“The entire Board would like to thank Neill for his countless contributions to RenaissanceRe’s success,” Mr Levy added. “As a co-founder in 1993, and as CEO since 2005, Neill has worked tirelessly to build RenaissanceRe into a global leader in our industry. The foundations he has laid have served us in good stead for twenty years, and they will remain as the backbone of our continued success.”“I want to thank Neill, the board, and our leadership team and staff for their support. After seventeen years with RenaissanceRe, I know we have the best team in the business, and I look forward to leading the firm,” Mr O’Donnell said.“Working with Neill has been a pleasure and I wish him the very best in his retirement. Neill’s passion for building a strong company culture and delivering superior customer service have become hallmarks of RenaissanceRe. We will ensure that this legacy continues.”“I have absolute confidence that Kevin and his executive team will continue to build long-term value in RenaissanceRe,” Mr Currie said. “It is an exciting time as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, and I am both proud and humbled to retire during a period of success and positive change for the company. The RenaissanceRe team will continue to provide our valued clients and partners with superior customer service and results in the years to come.”