BMS appoints Mercier as COO for its US business

BMS, the independent specialist re/insurance broker, has appointed Robert Mercier as chief operating officer for its US business.

Mercier will take up his post on February 25 and will be based in Philadelphia, reporting to Pete Chandler, president and chief executive of BMS’s US arm.

Mercier has over 20 years’ experience managing reinsurance operations in North America and globally. He was most recently operations director at Willis Re, where he spent 15 years serving in several senior positions. Before joining Willis Re he was the global underwriting operations leader at GE Insurance Solutions for five years, developing property and casualty reinsurance products, services, and systems.

He has also worked at Converium (now Zurich Re) and Marsh & McLennan, and has a background in underwriting, client services and sales in reinsurance and specialty insurance markets,

Chandler noted that BMS’s reinsurance revenues have now topped $100 million, and said the company plans to continue to invest in talent at all levels, including leadership, brokerage, analytical and actuarial, this year and beyond.

“To accelerate our growth momentum in 2021, we continue to invest heavily in talent and technology, with a particular focus on all things digital, analytics and data,” he added.

Mercier said: “With a vision and strategy informed by insight and understanding of key market sectors, and underpinned by outstanding 2020 accomplishments and continuing investments, BMS is uniquely positioned for robust, sustained expansion in a dynamic and changing marketplace.”