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* John Aquino, Executive VP, Benfield Group, Chicago

* Michael Amatrudo, Senior VP, Aon Re Americas, Stamford

* Aaron Bueler, Managing Dir., Guy Carpenter, Seattle

* Wade Gulbransen, Senior VP, Benfield Group, Minneapolis

* Frank Woodbury, Managing Director, Guy Carpenter, Morristown

Casualty rates eased last year with the exception of the professional liability markets, in particular the D&O market. Reinsurers and cedents cited Benfield's John Aquino for his expertise, especially as a former actuary, and valued his analysis in the workers' comp marketplace as a number of key state clients began to see the results of statewide reform as rates eased.

Reinsurers also cited work on catastrophic workers' comp issues with Guy Carpenter's Aaron Bueler, another workers' comp specialist, out of Carpenter's Seattle office. He was also recommended, along with Frank Woodbury in the umbrella casualty markets out of Carpenter's Morristown, N.J. office. Willis' Re's James Bradshaw and his team also received high marks, in the excess casualty marketplace. Reinsurers remarked that Willis Re has beefed up its New York operations.

Aon's Stamford office also was cited as an important player in the marketplace, especially Michael Amatrudo, particularly in the excess casualty marketplace. Casualty remains an exceptionally competitive marketplace among reinsurance brokers, although there was little reason based on pricing last year to change brokers as most rates continued to decline.

April 1, 2007

Copyright 2007© LRP Publications