BF&M chief executive officer Glenn Titterton denied in Supreme Court yesterday that his role in the company had required him to keep abreast of its Weavers of London account, or to examine its reports from Tillinghast actuaries.

Mr. Titterton was under cross-examination by Cooper & Lines lawyer Ian Croxford QC for the Bermuda Fire case.

A key element of the afternoon sessions was Mr. Croxford's attempt to establish that both the Weavers and Tillinghast issues would have demanded Mr.

Titterton's attention, in light of the deterioration of the company's international operations.

Mr. Titterton maintained that his focus was generally confined to the company's domestic operations.

Referring to a note to Mr. Titterton from Bermuda Fire reinsurance manager Keith White, Mr. Croxford said: "It wouldn't have been surprising to you to find Mr. Keith White was trying to keep you abreast of what was going on, at least in respect of Weavers?'' Mr. Titterton answered: "To a certain extent.'' "Being kept abreast of the Weavers account was certainly a thing in which by 1989 you had a continual interest, didn't you?'' Mr. Croxford persisted.

When Mr. Titterton failed to produce a satisfactory answer, Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux broke in and repeated the question, at which point Mr.

Titterton said he had no memory of being kept abreast of the Weavers account.

The court then heard that during a board meeting of BF&M on March 27, 1990, the chairman announced that "an explanation was necessary for the unfortunate business with H S Weavers'' and that the Tillinghast report indicated the company's reserves had deteriorated further.

Mr. Croxford said, "Would it be naive to suggest that it might have crossed your mind to read the Tillinghast report?'' Mr. Titterton said that to the best of his knowledge he had never read a whole Tillinghast report.

When asked about a mention of Tillinghast in his desk diary for March 21, Mr.

Titterton admitted he had "no clue'' what this was in reference to.

The examination finished with Mr. Croxford questioning Mr. Titterton on the "future uncertainties'' he expected to face as the new CEO.

"By December of 1990 you still hadn't agreed on your terms of engagement as CEO... how much you were going to get paid, and so on,'' Mr. Croxford said.

"You had to write to Senator Collis to chase him up on this, as it were.'' In seeking a salary commensurate with the demands of the job, Mr. Titterton at this stage referred to future uncertainties that he would face.

When questioned, Mr. Titterton said that "Bermuda was passing through a very difficult economic period, the company was facing very strong competition -- there were lots of uncertainties.'' "The uncertainties facing the international department existed in your mind,'' Mr. Croxford said, "and they were substantial uncertainties.'' Mr. Titterton agreed.

Mr. Titterton's examination will resume Monday morning.

Cross-examining: Ian Croxford QC, lawyer representing Cooper & Lines.

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