John Rathgeber to retire as Watford Holdings CEO

John Rathgeber is to retire as chief executive officer of Watford Holdings on March 31, 2020. He will remain a member of Watford’s board of directors and serve as a senior advisor to the company.

Walter Harris, chairman of the board of Watford said: “On behalf of the board, I want to extend a sincere thank you to John for his accomplishments as CEO. He has guided the company from its formation, navigated through challenging markets and ultimately spearheaded Watford’s entry into the public markets. I’m pleased we will continue to benefit from his insights and perspectives through his roles on the board and as an advisor to the company.”

Rathgeber will be succeeded by Jonathan Levy, who currently serves as Watford’s president.

“I am extremely pleased to turn over the reins to Jon, an immensely talented individual,” said Rathgeber. “I’m proud of what Watford has accomplished to date and feel privileged to have helped establish a company with such a unique and powerful business model. I look forward to making further contributions to Watford’s success as an engaged board member.”

Levy added: “I’m excited about the future of Watford and grateful for the opportunity to lead the company. I’d like to thank John for his sage leadership over the past six years. It will be my mandate to build upon the foundation that John has helped create. I look forward to working with our board, strong management team and business partners, Arch and HPS, to ensure Watford delivers long term value to its clients, employees and shareholders.”

Levy joined Watford at its inception as its chief risk officer. Previously, he served as chief pricing actuary of insurance for Endurance Specialty Holdings. Prior to that he was a senior consultant at Tillinghast Towers Perrin, after starting his career at ACE INA.