Influential Women in Captive Insurance: Ellen Charnley
Ellen Charnley, President, Marsh Captive Solutions
In October 2017, Ellen Charnley became the first woman president of Marsh Captive Solutions. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of the business, which includes nearly 600 colleagues worldwide and approximately 1,900 captives under management in over 55 domiciles with premium volume exceeding $73 billion.
Charnley has more than 28 years of experience working with many different domiciles and captives. In January 2018, she was recognised as the most powerful and influential person within the captives sector by Captive Review, which ranked her #1 in its “Power 50” list, and the first woman to achieve this honour. She captured the top spot again in 2019. In October 2018, she was honoured by Business Insurance for the “Women to Watch” awards programme which recognises women leaders doing outstanding work in risk management and commercial insurance worldwide.
Prior to this role, Charnley was the global sales leader for Marsh Captive Solutions in addition to leading sales for other consulting businesses within Marsh. She has held a number of senior positions within Marsh Captive Solutions including: national sales leader, West Zone captive advisory practice leader, and office head of the Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada captive management operations.
Charnley spent 10 years working in Bermuda, where she held a number of roles including running a large operational team in the Marsh Bermuda captive management division.
Prior to joining Marsh, Charnley was vice president and director of a captive management company based in Bermuda and was responsible for the entire captive insurance operation, including new business development.
Originally from the UK, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. Before moving to Bermuda, she worked for Whitbread, a UK hotel and leisure company, as a financial accountant.
How did you get started in the captive insurance industry?
Like many people, probably because I wanted to live in Bermuda. I moved there in the mid-1990s not knowing what a captive was.
What do you think deters people from entering the world of captives?
There industry is relatively small and unknown and often misunderstood. It is an exciting industry with opportunities for travel, access to top clients and engaging relationships. This is not talked about enough.
In what ways can companies in the sector create a more inclusive culture that actively promotes gender diversity at all levels?
This is a global industry that reaches many countries and cultures, there is absolutely no reason why the industry should not be leading the way on culture diversity and inclusion, and that is certainly something we prioritise at Marsh Captive Solutions.
“There is absolutely no reason why the industry should not be leading the way on culture diversity and inclusion.“
What are your ambitions?
To live life to the fullest every single day.
Click here to read Captive International’s first Influential Women in Captive Insurance publication, celebrating the women transforming the captive sector through their sustained excellence and leadership.
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