Willis Re, an international reinsurance broker, has appointed Bermuda market veteran John Fletcher to be its new chief executive officer.

Mr Fletcher joins from rival reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter, where he was CEO of the Bermuda office, having led the firm’s operations on island since 2018. He originally relocated to Bermuda in 2013 to head Guy Carpenter’s property retrocession team.

Earlier this week, Willis Re announced the appointment of Jim Summers, as CEO, global specialities. He also joined from Guy Carpenter, where he was global head of marine and energy.

The announcements follow a legal battle between Guy Carpenter and Willis Re, which ended with a judge clearing the way for the executives, and other former Guy Carpenter staff members, to make their moves to Willis Re.

Willis Re, which was launched in late 2024, is a joint venture between insurance brokerage WTW and private equity firm Bain Capital.

In 2025, more than 20 Guy Carpenter staff, across the Bermuda and London offices, resigned to join Willis Re.

Guy Carpenter sued in the British courts, alleging an unlawful team raid. The High Court rejected that characterisation, while finding that some senior brokers at Guy Carpenter committed limited breaches of fiduciary and contractual duty during Willis Re’s recruitment drive.

Mr Justice Birt rejected Guy Carpenter’s bid to prevent offers to global specialties staff until April 2027, and ruled that a four-month period of “no-recruitment” springboard relief was appropriate.

In his role, Mr Fletcher will be responsible for leading Willis Re’s Bermuda platform, driving business growth, developing the team and overseeing operations and implementation of strategic plans.

Mr Fletcher brings over 35 years of experience across the reinsurance and retrocession sectors. Throughout his career, he has “built extensive expertise in delivering customised reinsurance solutions and developed long-standing relationships with clients and market participants worldwide”, Willis Re said.

Lucy Clarke, a board member of Willis Re, said: “John is one of the most respected figures in the Bermuda reinsurance market, with a career defined by strong leadership, deep technical expertise and lasting client relationships.

“As we continue to invest in and expand our Bermuda operations, his leadership and strategic perspective will be key to supporting our long-term ambitions and enhancing our market presence.”

Mr Fletcher added: “This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing business with clear objectives in one of the world’s most important reinsurance markets.

“Bermuda continues to play a critical role within the global industry, and I believe there is significant opportunity to further develop a differentiated proposition built around expertise, collaboration and lasting relationships.”