McMahon awarded 2026 Fred Reiss Award
Thomas McMahon (pictured)has been announced as the recipient of the 2026 Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Bermuda Captive Conference, recognising his outstanding contribution to Bermuda's captive insurance industry and his decades of leadership, advocacy and service to the captive community both locally and internationally.
Presented annually at the event the Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest individual honour bestowed by the Bermuda Captive Network. Named after captive insurance pioneer Fred Reiss, the award recognises individuals whose vision, commitment and leadership have left a lasting impact on Bermuda's position as a global leader in captive insurance.
McMahon's career spans more than three decades in captive insurance and risk management. Since entering the industry in 1994, he has played a pivotal role in the formation, management and evolution of captive insurance companies across a wide range of sectors and structures. Today, he serves as Executive Vice President of Davies Captive Management Bermuda.
According to the BCN throughout his career, McMahon has been a passionate advocate for Bermuda's captive industry, dedicating countless hours to industry organisations, regulatory consultation and international business development efforts.
A Past President and Secretary of the Bermuda Insurance Management Association (BIMA), McMahon has long been a respected voice within the captive community. He has also served as chair of the Bermuda Captive Conference, helping guide the event through periods of significant change.
The BCN added that McMahon played an important role in industry engagement with European regulators during the development of Solvency II, helping ensure that the unique nature of captive insurance companies was properly understood and recognised within evolving international regulatory frameworks. His efforts helped preserve a regulatory environment that supports the continued growth and success of Bermuda's captive sector.
“Tom embodies everything this award represents,” said Gráinne Richmond, President of the Bermuda Captive Network.
“For more than 30 years, he has quietly and consistently dedicated himself to the advancement of Bermuda's captive industry. His technical expertise is second to none, but what truly sets Tom apart is his willingness to share that knowledge, mentor others and always put the interests of the industry first.
“Many of us have found ourselves in a meeting or discussion where, at some point, somebody inevitably says, 'Let's just ask Tom.' That speaks volumes about the trust, respect and confidence he has earned throughout his career. Bermuda's captive community is stronger because of his leadership, and we are delighted to recognise his extraordinary contribution through this year's Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award.”
"We are absolutely delighted that Tom has been recognised with the 2026 Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award," said colleagues at Davies Captive Management Bermuda.
"Few individuals have contributed as much to Bermuda's captive industry over such a sustained period of time. Tom's leadership, professionalism, technical excellence and generosity have influenced not only our organisation, but the wider captive community. This recognition is richly deserved, and we could not be more pleased to see him honoured by his industry peers."
The Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award has previously been awarded to some of the most influential figures in Bermuda's captive insurance history, including the late Leslie Robinson and Bala Nadarajah, Eduardo Fox, Cyril Whitter, Cathy Duffy, Jeremy Cox, Brian R. Hall OBE, Michael Burns and Jill Husbands.
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