NEW YORK, JULY 24, 2025—Lockton Re, the reinsurance business of the world’s largest privately held independent insurance broker, has appointed Jim Franson as North America Chairman, Lockton Re, LLC.
Nick Durant, CEO, North America Lockton Re, said, “We are pleased Jim has joined Lockton Re in this newly formed role as North America Chairman. The creation of his role is a direct result of the incredible acceleration in the scope and size of our team. Jim’s proven leadership, enthusiasm for the business, and strong reputation in the industry make him a natural fit for Lockton Re.”
Commenting on his appointment, Jim Franson said, “This is an exciting next step in my career, and I am thrilled to be joining Lockton Re. What makes this team so compelling to colleagues and clients is its fresh, forward-looking take on reinsurance broking, consistently creating value for clients. Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to work with some very talented people, and this new role continues that trend."
Jim Franson joins Lockton Re with over 35 years of (re)insurance experience and a proven track record of success. Most recently, he was President at Validus Re US, where he built a team and organization with a well-balanced portfolio of Property and Casualty treaty business. Prior to that, he was Chief Underwriting Officer at Arch Reinsurance Company, establishing Arch Re as a market leader in the US reinsurance space. Throughout his career, he has held progressive leadership roles with demonstrated success. In addition to his time spent in underwriting leadership roles, Jim began his career as a broker working at Marsh and Aon in a variety of positions with postings in NY, London, Washington DC and other locations.
Tim Gardner, Global CEO, Lockton Re, concludes, “We continue to experience substantial growth and success for our clients, and Jim is a key part of our ongoing growth strategy. His deep experience in the global reinsurance market will further strengthen our ability to deliver unique perspectives and distinct risk transfer solutions tailored to our clients' business objectives, and we are delighted to welcome him to Lockton Re.”