Bermuda reinsurance veteran Don Kramer has been named as a candidate for the International Insurance Society’s 2013 Insurance Hall of Fame awards.Mr Kramer formed and led several reinsurance companies over a 54-year span — including a large portion of that time in Bermuda.His competition for the award includes AIG CEO Robert Benmosche, who has led the US insurer’s recovery from near collapse in 2008, and J Barry Griswell, chairman of Principal Financial Group, USA.The Insurance Hall of Fame award honours insurance leaders who have made a lasting contribution to the insurance industry and who are recognised by their peers as successful leaders, innovators and visionaries.Mr Kramer, who is chairman and founder of Bermuda-based ILS Capital Management Ltd, is recognised as an innovator in several fields, including investment banking, as well as rehabilitating and/or liquidating troubled insurance companies.Among the new companies he established were NACPAC, Tempest Re and Ariel Re. He also has a long history in the arts and the non-profit sector.“This year we are again honoured to put forth a fantastic slate of candidates for the Insurance Hall of Fame, representing the very best in our industry”, said Bernhard Fink, chairman of the IIS Honors Committee. “It is a rare and true honour to be considered for the Insurance Hall of Fame and we warmly congratulate our diverse and distinguished group of insurance leaders and innovators.”The other candidates are Dr Marius Barnard, of South Africa, a heart surgeon whose work made him realise the need for financial protection for people who are seriously ill; and Jong-won Park, CEO, Korean Re.Nominees for the Insurance Hall of Fame are selected by the IIS Honors Committee, a body of senior insurance executives and academics. IIS membership then votes by secret ballots, which are tabulated and conducted by Deloitte & Touche.The winner will be announced in January and the award will be presented June 17 during the IIS 49th Annual Seminar gala dinner, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul in Seoul, Korea.