ACE : Strengthens European Cyber Practice with Added Third Party and International Expertise; Appoints Kyle Bryant to New Management Role

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACE Group today announced the appointment of Kyle Bryant as Regional Cyber Manager, Continental Europe, as it further invests in its cyber risk practice to meet evolving customer needs.

Kyle, previously Assistant Vice President at ACE USA, will have management responsibility for ACE's growing cyber risk business across Continental Europe. He will focus on bringing together ACE's extensive international first and third-party expertise, underwriting capabilities, risk management and incident response services to deliver bespoke, market-leading solutions to brokers and clients.

The appointment follows the launch of ACE's global cyber risk practice, established to facilitate the sharing of global expertise and drive seamless solutions for the benefit of buyers. Working with Toby Merrill as head of the practice and his colleagues across ACE's global network, Kyle will contribute to the development of the practice and execute its strategy across Continental Europe, paying close attention to proposition development, underwriting strategy and market relationships locally.

Kyle will report to Grant Cairns, Regional Manager, Financial Lines for ACE in Continental Europe and will work in close partnership with Gilbert Flepp, Cyber Risks Manager (First Party) for ACE in Continental Europe. His appointment is effective 1 August and he will initially be based in London.

Kyle has over eight years of insurance industry experience in underwriting, product management, claims and legal roles focused on technology and professional liability risks. He joined ACE six years ago and, most recently, his responsibilities included Regional Manager for technology and professional liability in ACE's US Mid-Atlantic region, where he oversaw successful the growth of a broad portfolio of professional liability, technology errors and omissions (E&O), data privacy and cyber insurance risks. Previously, he was executive underwriter for technology and professional liability in ACE's New York metropolitan region.

Grant Cairns, Regional Manager for Financial Lines for ACE in Continental Europe, said:

"At ACE, we are committed to bringing together our global cyber risk experience for the benefit of our local customers. European brokers and clients tell us that the insurance industry still has some way to go in meeting their expectations for clearer, more comprehensive cyber risk solutions. With his extensive experience in the fast-maturing US cyber market and deep expertise in third-party liability risks, I am confident that Kyle's appointment will help us to enhance our customer proposition in a way that responds to these market challenges in Europe."

Steven Reiss, Chief Operating Officer for ACE in Continental Europe, said:

"In ACE's research last year, European companies ranked cyber as one of the top three emerging risks most likely to have a financial impact on their business - while those in Germany and France awarded it first and second place respectively. Yet every company's risk profile is different and there is no 'one size fits all' solution. This investment will allow us to build on our strong market position, enabling us to unlock our first and third party underwriting, risk engineering and incident response capabilities for middle-market and global accounts alike, in a tailored way that meets their needs."

Note to editors:

ACE's Emerging Risks Barometer was published in December 2013 and surveyed executives responsible for risk management at 650 companies across Europe, Middle East and Africa. You can download the report at http://pages.e.acegroup.com/emergingrisk/

About ACE

ACE Group is one of the world's largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. ACE Limited, the parent company of ACE Group, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACE) and is a component of the S&P 500 index.