Dion Fox, a promising reinsurer whose life was claimed in a traffic accident overseas, has been remembered by friends and colleagues as a friend and mentor.

The son of Ewart and Maverneen Fox, of St David’s, Mr Fox had been celebrating his 38th birthday on August 26 with a trip to the Dominican Republic.

With his specialised training and flair for fields such as catastrophe reinsurance, Mr Fox made “an extremely popular member of the team” at the firm MS Frontier Re, according to a statement from colleagues, who have been gathering tributes for his family.

“His loss has had a profound effect on everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.”

Colleagues described him as a “a big, friendly giant” who impressed others by quietly getting tasks done. He had been about to start a key role in the company, arising from its merger with MS Amlin AG Bermuda Branch.

Mr Fox began at the company in 2013 as a senior catastrophe modeller, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

Managers were impressed by the depth of his education, attention to detail and thoroughness.

“After obtaining his MBA from St John’s University in New York, Dion returned to Bermuda and became a well-known member of the reinsurance community, moving through progressive roles at a major broking house, Guy Carpenter, and then at a collateralised reinsurer, Aeolus Re,” a company statement said.

He was described as “very focused in a specialist part of a specialist industry”, serving with teams based in Singapore as well as Bermuda — the latter providing him a chance to treat his mother, to whom he was devoted, to a trip overseas.

Loyal to his St David’s roots, Mr Fox was part of a well-known East End family. “He just drew you in. You wanted to get to know him as a person and not just as a colleague,” a co-worker said. As a top member in his field in Bermuda, Mr Fox became a valued mentor to others.

“On behalf of the company, his colleagues and his many friends across the business, we would like to offer our sympathies and condolences to his family at this difficult time.”