IAT hires reinsurance head from Aspen as Miller retires

US-based IAT Insurance Group has hired Donna McDermott as head of IAT Reinsurance (IAT Re) to succeed senior vice president Jim Miller who plans to retire on March 1, 2019.

McDermott joins IAT Re from Aspen Re America where she most recently served as senior vice president and head of national accounts treaty North America, and prior to that, was senior vice president and head of specialty casualty.

Previously, McDermott spent 20 years at XL Reinsurance America where her career advanced steadily from underwriting officer and property underwriter to senior vice president and Eastern regional manager. She spent her early career at General Reinsurance and Conning and Company, respectively.

McDermott will report to IAT CEO Bill Cunningham and will be based in the company's Connecticut office.

IAT said Tim Madden, managing director, will also retire in 2019. As part of the unit’s succession planning and future sustainability, IAT Re appointed Chris Bilski to the team in May 2018.

Cunningham said: “IAT Re has an impressive track record of success largely due to Jim and his team’s unwavering focus on sustainable underwriting profitability, integrity and responsiveness. When Jim shared his plans to retire, we wanted to find the best leader to assume the role and benefit from his counsel through the transition.”

“Donna is an underwriter who brings more than 30 years of experience, including more than 20 years of leadership experience in both facultative and treaty reinsurance. We are confident she will continue to build upon the strong foundation Jim and his team have established for IAT Re,” he added.

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