FORTY under 40: Kirsty Swink
Kirsty Swink, account executive, Willis Towers Watson Management (Vermont).
Kirsty Swink qualified as a chartered accountant in Aberdeen, Scotland, in the oil and gas industry. But her goal was to work abroad, landing a job in Bermuda in 2014, despite not knowing anything about the insurance industry. Most of her time there was spent at JLT’s captive management practice. Swink relocated to the US in 2022 and now works remotely as an account executive at Willis Towers Watson Management (Vermont).
She manages many different types and sizes of captive insurance companies, overseeing the service teams responsible for all relevant operations, including formation, accounting, underwriting, regulatory reporting and compliance. She serves as the liaison between the captives and their regulators in various domiciles, their captive directors and officers, risk managers and other trusted service providers.
She also works closely with and trains colleagues to ensure a high standard of service for their valued clients, as well as in the developing new and potential business relationships.
What are the greatest challenges of working in this industry, and what do you find most rewarding?
From my perspective, the greatest challenge is also the most rewarding! The statement “when you’ve seen one captive, you’ve seen one captive” is very true. Every client I've ever worked on has been unique, from small to large, simple to complex, they have all had their own nuances to be considered. There is no “one solution fits all” and you are constantly adapting to new situations or needs. Because of this I feel I quickly had a strong knowledge and experience base in terms of insurance, as well as learning about the different industries my clients are in, which can be very interesting in itself, but it does keep you on your toes!
Brokers are being forced to get creative come renewal time as conditions rapidly change, and alternative risk strategies make sense
Would you recommend the captive insurance industry to young people as a future career path?
I would absolutely recommend a job in captive insurance to young professionals looking for the opportunity to be part of a dynamic and established industry. In my opinion, the captive management function is particularly rewarding as it allows for professional development in many areas, such as financial reporting, project management, presenting and communicating with other professionals and leaders. If travel is the goal, there can be opportunities to attend meetings and conferences, as well as the potential to work in different domiciles worldwide.
What developments do you see ahead for captives?
The onshore captive industry is well established now, and I believe there will be an uptick in formations over the next few years. In commercial insurance markets, brokers are being forced to get creative come renewal time as conditions rapidly change, and alternative risk strategies make sense in many situations. Captive utilisation is continuously evolving and offering exciting opportunities for their owners, and I am sure captives will be a valuable tool in emerging risks like AI.
Do you think your long-term future remains in the captives market?
Yes, I am very happy to have found myself in this role at WTW, no two days are the same and I am constantly learning, which is important to me. My focus has always been to deliver white-glove service to my clients and WTW echoes that emphasis, understanding the importance of this within our industry and allowing me the flexibility and tools to achieve it. I have appreciated regular guidance from, and collaboration with, senior management and consultants within the full WTW network. There are many communities and groups within the industry that are easy to get involved with, too. I have met so many interesting and inspiring people, I’ve lost count. To me, the captive industry is the place to be!
Click here to read Captive International’s third FORTY Under 40 2025 publication.
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