Former Helios CEO Martin Reith has resurfaced in a dual position as executive chairman of Volante Global and advisor to Acrisure Re Corporate Advisory and Solutions.

In the Volante role Reith will provide strategic support and advice to the board on sustainable growth opportunities.

His Acrisure role will see him advise Ben Canagaretna, Acrisure Re’s Corporate Advisory and Solutions managing director, on accessing third-party capital.

Reith previously served as CEO of Helios Underwriting, but stepped down in June 2024. He assumed that role in April 2023 after joining Helios two years prior as non-executive director.

With over 40 years of underwriting experience, Reith was the founder and CEO of Ascot Underwriting, which he established in 2001 with the support and backing of AIG.

He stepped down as CEO of the Lloyd’s carrier in 2009 before assuming the CEO role at Neon Underwriting from 2015 to 2019. His experience also included as CEO of XL Capital’s insurance operations in London.

Volante Global founder and CEO, Talbir Bains, said: “As we embark on a year of a significant growth plan for Syndicate 1699, the addition of Martin’s expertise will position us for continued success to deliver respectable underwriting profit in a competitive landscape.”

In October, The Insurer revealed that Volante’s Syndicate 1699 was set to expand into casualty and marine treaty reinsurance classes in 2025, with both lines having set gross premium targets in excess of £30mn.

Overall, Volante 1699 was predicting GWPs in the region of £300mn for 2025 despite a retrenchment from transactional liability and D&O.