Robin Burgess
Underwriting & Reinsurance Head
Johannesburg
Summary
summary
Pursuing full-time role that presents professional challenges and leverages interpersonal skills, effective time management, and problem-solving expertise.
Overview
2
2
Languages
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Reinsurance & Underwriting
Old Mutual Africa Regions
Johannesburg
05.2023 - Current
- Underwriting Technical Support: Support the underwriting and Reinsurance managers on technical underwriting for large accounts acquisition and renewals. Liaison with lead reinsurer in underwriting complex and specialty claims” Manage underwriting policy and guidelines/philosophy across all countries
- Management of Reinsurance: Oversee collection, clean-up and presentation of reinsurance data to reinsurers/reinsurance brokers to ensure the group continues to have in place a robust and optimal reinsurance program. Co-ordinate request to reinsurers on ‘special acceptances’, waivers and fronting across all countries. Evaluate reinsurance data and recommend change where applicable to improve on cost and profitability. Ensure adherence of all regulatory requirements with regards to our reinsurance arrangement in the region
- Product Review: Set a up a RoA Product Review Committee and manage the development of new products and enhancements to the existing products
- Risk Based Premium Rating: Drive implementation of the risk-based rating models across Rest of Africa.
- Central Purchasing of Reinsurance: Leverage on the consolidated RoA P&C Book under OMRE to negotiate for better reinsurance terms for the RoA BU’s.
- Develop and implement a RoA Reinsurance Governance structure and mandates
- Review and sign-off Reinsurance programs
- Training, Coaching and Mentoring: The incumbent will coach and mentor Underwriting and Reinsurance teams across the RoA.
- Technology: The incumbent will advise on the adoption of new developments in technology that impacts on Underwriting and Reinsurance.
- Evolving Risk Landscape: Advise on the evolving risk landscape and implement new standards such as advanced risk surveys, driven by such phenomenon as Climate Change.
Manager Technical Underwriting
Santam
Johannesburg
06.2019 - 05.2023
- Oversee correct underwriting principles are implemented and adhered to
- Staff training and mentoring
- Claims assistance and decision making
- Policy wordings
- Reinsurance monitoring (Facultative and Treaty with Insurer)
Snr. HO Casualty & Property Underwriter
Santam
06.2019 - 01.2021
- Oversee correct underwriting principles are implemented and adhered to
- Staff training and mentoring
- Claims assistance and decision making
- Policy wordings
- Reinsurance monitoring (Facultative and Treaty with Insurer)
Technical Manager
Discovery Business Insure
05.2018 - 06.2019
- Oversee correct underwriting principles are implemented and adhered to
- Staff training and mentoring
Group Underwriting Head
Risk Slip Captive
01.2017 - 05.2018
- Oversee correct underwriting principles are implemented and adhered to throughout the group
- Staff training and mentoring
- Claims assistance and decision making
- Rate setting
- Policy wordings
- Reinsurance monitoring (Facultative and Treaty with Insurer) Monthly reporting to Insurer
Head of Underwriting
Renasa Insurance Company Limited
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Implement, reconcile, and manage Renasa’s stated risk retention strategy in consultation with partners
- Assist and guide Client Management, Sales, Technical and Risk, and Partner Clients to profitably underwrite risks by applying technical factors to risks, limits or structures
- Assist in the development of new products, structures, rating and policy wordings in consultation with Client Management, Sales, Technical and Risk, and Partner Clients to profitably underwrite risks, both conventional and non-conventional
- Assist Client Management teams from an underwriting perspective with new business and renewal of clients
- Negotiate facultative terms with reinsurers for new and existing business
- Review insurance treaty and facultative holdings and align with underlying policies. Review and approve contingency policy wordings and underwriting limits
- Provide underwriting technical support including claims technical support to client services and finance. Monitor underwriting profitability of clients
- Identify, develop, monitor Risk Improvement Measures in consultation with Client Management, Sales, Technical and Risk, and Partner Clients to profitably underwrite risks, both conventional and non-conventional
- Reconcile statistics and liaise with Partner Clients on setting Economical Quota Share Risk Limits. Present and negotiate with reinsurers and reinsurance brokers on best terms available
- Assist and instruct on complex and large claims in consultation with loss adjusters and attorneys
- Assist with the training of junior underwriters/trainees
- Provision and sign off and maintenance of all policy wordings
- Enforcement of correct underwriting standards throughout the company (UW audit desk)
- Maintain wordings in line with reinsurance treaties
- Protect Renasa’s capital by ensuring that the necessary facultative insurance has been placed
- Negotiate wording changes in reinsurance treaties with reinsurers
- Ensure Renasa’s participation in relevant industry bodies
Senior Underwriter
Centriq Insurance Company Limited
07.2011 - 06.2015
- Implement, reconcile and properly manage Centriq’s stated risk retention strategy in consultation with partners
- To assist and guide client management, sales, technical and risk, and partner clients to profitably underwrite risks by applying technical rating factors to risks, limits or structures
- Assist in the development of new products, structures, rating and policy wordings in consultation with client management, sales, technical and risk, and partner clients to profitably underwrite both conventional and nonconventional risks
- Provide underwriting technical support to UMA’s
- Negotiate facultative terms with reinsurers for new and existing business
- Review reinsurance treaty and facultative wordings and align with underlying policies
- Review and approve contingency policy wordings and underwriting limits
- Monitor underwriting profitability of clients
- Identify, develop, roll out and monitor risk improvement measures in consultation with client
- Reconcile statistics and liaise with partner clients on setting economical quota share risk limits. Present and negotiate with reinsurers and reinsurance brokers on best terms available
- Assist and instruct on complex and large claims, in consultation with loss adjusters and attorneys
- Assist with the training of junior underwriters/trainees
Accounts Executive, Corporate Clients
ABSA Insurance Brokers
02.1999 - 06.2011
- Sourcing of possible clients from the bank’s branches as well as cold calling
- Presentations to the banking staff as well as VIP clients
- Launching of new products/services offered by ABSA Brokers as well as the general market
- Consultation with prospective clients to assess their short-term insurance needs, including arranging the correct cover for clients with specific short term needs to the walk over client
- Follow up services which include changes in risk, new ventures, contracts, acquisitions, general risk control management, surveys, and claims
Commercial Inspector
Fedsure General Insurance (FEDGEN)
02.1997 - 01.1999
- Commercial and personal lines quoting
- Broker consulting
- Product research and launch
- Annual budgeting
- Risk surveying
- Reinsurance placing and consulting
- Annual portfolio auditing
- Direct report back to regional manager
Commercial Underwriter
Mutual and Federal Insurance Company
01.1993 - 12.1997
- Developed strategies for acquiring new business opportunities
- Administered portfolio, ensuring compliance with underwriting guidelines and enhancing risk assessment.
- Bordereaux management
- Facilitated communication between brokers and clients to ensure clarity
- Commercial claims clerk Key performance areas – non-motor commercial claims, including all sections of Multimark
- Coordinated with SASRIA, clients, and brokers to resolve claims and provide timely updates.
Education
Santam Stellenbosch MDP program -
Stellenbosch
01-2021
ADVANCED PROGRAMME IN RISK MANAGEMENT - undefined
UNISA
01-2020
Fellow -
IISA (Insurance Institute of South Africa)
01-2017
Associate - undefined
IISA (Insurance Institute of South Africa)
01-2015
Associate International Risk Managers Association - undefined
IRMSA
01-2015
IISA PR IN ADV INSUR PR ACT - undefined
UNISA
01-2014
IISA INT PROG ADV INS PRAC - undefined
UNISA
01-2013
Higher Certificate in Insurance - undefined
Milpark Business School
01-2012
Skills
Skilled in MS Office tools
Artificial intelligence proficiency
Regulatory Compliance & Financial Reporting
Change Management & Operational Transition
Digital Transformation & AI Integration
Accomplishments
- Manage underwriting performance
- Price risk profitably on an ongoing basis
- Optimise reinsurance structures and pricing Grow net retention
- Manage adequate return on capital
- Enterprise risk management in terms of best practice
- Large loss claims management
- New product development
- Self starter, innovative and assertive
- Able to work independently
- Project management and client centricity is very important
Affiliations
- FAIS and FICA compliant
- Certificate of Proficiency
- Higher Certificate in Insurance NQF5
- National Diploma in Insurance NQF6
- Programme in Risk Management NQF7
- RE5
- Fellow & Associate Member of the Insurance Institute of South Africa
- Independent Member of the Institute of Risk managers of South Africa
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Head of Reinsurance & Underwriting
Old Mutual Africa Regions
05.2023 - Current
Manager Technical Underwriting
Santam
06.2019 - 05.2023
Snr. HO Casualty & Property Underwriter
Santam
06.2019 - 01.2021
Technical Manager
Discovery Business Insure
05.2018 - 06.2019
Group Underwriting Head
Risk Slip Captive
01.2017 - 05.2018
Head of Underwriting
Renasa Insurance Company Limited
06.2015 - 06.2016
Senior Underwriter
Centriq Insurance Company Limited
07.2011 - 06.2015
Accounts Executive, Corporate Clients
ABSA Insurance Brokers
02.1999 - 06.2011
Commercial Inspector
Fedsure General Insurance (FEDGEN)
02.1997 - 01.1999
Commercial Underwriter
Mutual and Federal Insurance Company
01.1993 - 12.1997
ADVANCED PROGRAMME IN RISK MANAGEMENT - undefined
UNISA
Associate - undefined
IISA (Insurance Institute of South Africa)
Associate International Risk Managers Association - undefined
IRMSA
IISA PR IN ADV INSUR PR ACT - undefined
UNISA
IISA INT PROG ADV INS PRAC - undefined
UNISA
Higher Certificate in Insurance - undefined
Milpark Business School
Fellow -
IISA (Insurance Institute of South Africa)
Santam Stellenbosch MDP program -
Stellenbosch