Our Team
ForestRe has a team of professionals with over 60 years of forestry and insurance expertise. Our team is focused on providing effective financial products and consultancy services to the Forest Industry. The leading experts are:
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John Forgach, Chairman: John is a former visiting Professor for Private Equity Investment and Business Planning for the Environment at Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. He currently heads up a private environmental investment corporate division based in New York.
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Phil Cottle, Managing Director: Phil has over 27 years experience in forestry risk assessment and design for brokers, forest corporations, Lloyd's Syndicates and continental reinsurers. Phil is an innovator in establishing forestry insurance schemes and a regular speaker on global platforms on aspects of forest risks and risk management. He has taken a leading figure in recognising and writing about the impacts of climate change on insurance and forest companies.
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Mike Edwards, CEO: Mike joined the team in December 2009 to add strategic and operational direction to the company. He has over 25 years experience in Insurance and Risk Management and has held a variety of senior positions notably with Norwich Union and Lumley Insurance Ltd. After leaving the financial services sector he spent a 5 year spell in the telecoms market where he was Managing Director (EMEA) of Westcom Corporation, a New York based private company, where he grew the global business significantly through a combination of organic growth and by acquisitions. After securing funds for a MBO from a number of Private Equity firms and preparing for a subsequent IPO, the company was eventually sold to a large conglomerate. It is there that he found he had a talent in developing medium sized companies and taking them on to the next level.
Mike is also Managing Director of Red Kite Management Solutions Ltd. and holds a business management degree from Reading University. He is approved by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the Institute of Directors. He is married with a 10 year old son and is a passionate rugby supporter.
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Glauco de Souza, Risk Manager: Glauco joined us in December 2009 to further strengthen our risk modelling department. Previously, Glauco worked for Ace Insurance for 4 years where he managed the processes for premium collection, claims, full SOX and FSA compliance. A native Brazilian and speaking a further 3 languages fluently, he will make a welcome addition to the global team as we continue to extend the ForestRe offering into new geographies.
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Charles Stutley, Consultant Underwriter: Charles is an Economist and an Agricultural Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. After many years as a consultant with Agricultural Risk Management Ltd, he worked as part of the forestry underwriting team for a global reinsurer based in Zurich and recently as a risk consultant for the World Bank and other International Development Agencies.
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Gilberto Ruiz, Operations & Assistant Underwriter: joined FRe in September 2009, to enhance and support the Underwriting Team. With seven years experience with Munich Re and as a Senior Underwriter for the South American market, Gilberto is a native Spanish speaker and a graduate of the Cass Business School achieving a MSc with distinction, specialising in Insurance and Risk Management.