A longstanding member of the Bermuda insurance market has been appointed head of innovation underwriting at Greenlight Capital Re Ltd in the Cayman Islands.

Heejae Cho joins the specialist property and casualty reinsurer based with more than 18 years of senior underwriting and actuarial experience at Ace, XL and Arch.

The company said she will be responsible for managing the underwriting activities within the growing Greenlight Re Innovations unit, which supports technology innovators and evaluates potential applications to the company’s reinsurance operations.

Before joining Greenlight Re, Ms Cho led a start-up insurtech, Viridis RS Ltd, which utilised technology and aerial data to help insurance carriers protect farmers by providing early warnings of pest and crop conditions.

Prior to her time at Viridis, Ms Cho served as an underwriter at Bermudian-based Arch Re from 2014 until 2018, where she managed specialty and liability classes.

She was a vice-president at XL Group from 2006 until 2014, and before that was an assistant vice-president at ACE Financial Solutions for more than two years.

Simon Burton is chief executive at Greenlight Re, and the former CEO of Lancashire Group’s Bermudian subsidiary. He also spent 10 years at Ace Limited in a variety of roles, including leading an underwriting division as president of Financial Solutions International.

Mr Burton said: “Opportunities generated by Greenlight Re Innovations is a key element of our underwriting business and we expect continued growth in this area.

“Heejae has over 18 years of experience in the Bermuda market and with insurtech initiatives. We are delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Ms Cho said: “Greenlight Re Innovations has built an excellent reputation in the insurtech sector, and there is tremendous potential in the associated underwriting opportunities.”