Hamilton, Bermuda – 30 April 2024 – Canopius, a global specialty lines (re)insurer, today announced that it has strengthened its senior leadership team in Bermuda with the appointment of Jesse DeCouto as Chief Underwriting Officer and Tonia Morgan as Chief Financial Officer of Canopius Reinsurance Limited. Tonia takes up her new role on July 1st, succeeding Teresa Gallant, while Jesse joins on September 1st, in a newly created role.
Jesse DeCouto joins the business as Chief Underwriting Officer in Bermuda. Starting his career as a pricing actuary in 2000, he brings nearly 25 years of experience in the industry and was most recently Global Chief Underwriting Officer for Validus Reinsurance. Jesse will also serve as Canopius’s Global Product Leader for Reinsurance, overseeing the governance, performance and standards of reinsurance underwriting teams across the business.
Tonia brings over two decades of finance experience in the global reinsurance industry. She joins Canopius from Axa XL, where she was CFO of Bermuda Reinsurance. Tonia’s strong technical knowledge of US GAAP, the Bermuda regulatory environment, Insurance Linked Securities, and (re)insurance makes her perfectly suited to this role.
These are the latest in a series of senior hires at Canopius Reinsurance. Charles Cooper joined the business as CEO and Global Head of Reinsurance in September 2023, with the initial goal of developing the reinsurer’s Bermuda platform to expand its reach and scope in the market. As part of this, Brenton Slade joined as Head of ILS in November. The business is now expanding the team with key hires with the depth of experience to execute its strategy and help build meaningful capacity among a targeted group of customers.
Both Jesse and Tonia will report to Charles Cooper, CEO, Canopius Reinsurance Limited and Global Head of Reinsurance.
Charles Cooper, CEO, Canopius Reinsurance Limited and Global Head of Reinsurance said:
“We are steadily increasing the level of reinsurance capacity we can offer in the market in a very targeted way and assembling a small team of senior leaders with the expertise and networks we need to realise our growth strategy.
Jesse and Tonia are exactly that, representing some of the best talent in the market – Jesse brings unrivalled underwriting experience and broker relationships, Tonia will be instrumental in facilitating the small, entrepreneurial culture that we need to drive growth in a targeted way. Alongside Brenton, we will now have the ideal people in place to embark on the next phase of our strategy.”
Jesse DeCouto, incoming CUO, Reinsurance at Canopius Reinsurance Limited, said:
“The growth plan which Charles has outlined and the opportunity to work with such an accomplished and well-respected team is exciting, compelling, and ultimately too good to pass up. I am delighted to join the Canopius Reinsurance Senior team at this formative time for the business and look forward to this exciting new challenge.”
Tonia Morgan, incoming CFO, Reinsurance at Canopius Reinsurance Limited, said:
“With a strong understanding of the Reinsurance market in Bermuda, I am looking forward to creating an impact within an entrepreneurial team that is looking to build an enduring business in the region. It’s an exceptionally talented team and I’m excited to get started.”
