July 08, 2008 08:00 AM Eastern Time 

Kristine Westall to Head Brokerage Operations at Collins

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kristine Westall, whose 22-year career has encompassed all aspects of operational support for major reinsurance intermediaries, has been named senior vice president-Brokerage Operations at Collins, Patrick Denzer, president and chief executive officer of the independent reinsurance broker, announced today.

Westall, who joins Collins’ senior management team and will report directly to Denzer, will be responsible for Client Claims and Accounting Services, Information Technology, Contracts, Compliance and Administration. She previously was senior vice president-Client Claims and Accounting Services.

Westall assumes her new responsibilities following the departure of Collins Chief Operating Officer Vibhu Sharma to become chief financial officer for Zurich North America Commercial.

“This reflects the excellent depth of talent we have here at Collins,” Denzer said. “Because of the talent, experience and successful track records of our people, we can offer expanded roles and responsibilities to members of our management team when such a transition occurs.

“Kris has contributed greatly to Collins since joining us two years ago,” Denzer added. “This new substantial, additional responsibility reflects not only the contributions she has made, but the potential we see in her to lead our operations and solidify client relationships.”

Prior to joining Collins in 2006, Westall served 20 years in claims, accounting and various leadership positions at reinsurance broker Benfield Group. Her background includes large account management, project leadership, employee and client training, systems development and new business production. She has led several key initiatives at Collins, including the development of an advanced brokerage system and a document management system.

Westall is a member of the Accounting Committee of the Reinsurance Association of America (RAA) and has served as session leader for the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota

Collins, established in 1987, serves clients in the property-casualty, life, and accident & health insurance markets. Headquartered in Minneapolis, it has offices across the United States as well as in London and in Bermuda. It has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 23 percent since 1995.

The privately-held company provides reinsurance brokerage services, risk transfer advice and analytical services to insurers, reinsurers, managing general agents and others in the insurance marketplace. Those services include catastrophe modeling, actuarial analysis, dynamic reinsurance modeling and financial consulting. Additional information is available at the company’s website, www.collins.com.