Stephane Louis, US Commutations Manager

Stephane joined Enstar straight out of school as a Commutations Analyst and now manages the US Commutations team.

How long have you worked at Enstar?
I started working at Enstar in 2016 as a Commutations Analyst, and I now mange the US commutations team. It’s been great to grow and evolve with the company over the years.

What attracted you to join Enstar?
I was recruited by Enstar at a careers fair my school was running. They matched me to a role they thought would fit me best, and I’ve been here ever since. Looking back, it’s a real testament to the people and the work that we do.

What inspired you to pursue a career in Commutations?
The intersection between the analytical and interpersonal elements of the role attracted me. You have to be able to understand the data and evaluations we work with, but more importantly, convey that with counterparties when negotiating.

What does the Commutations team at Enstar do?
‘Commutation’ is when a cedant and a reinsurer agree to settle their outstanding liabilities with a final payment. It involves understanding the value of the claim, agreeing a settlement amount both parties are comfortable with, and negotiating to reach that final agreement.

What does your day-to-day look like?
The reality is there is no true typical day in commutations, given the rapidly changing workload. We're very active on the M&A side, and we do get new companies that come and shift your priorities. You can come in thinking you're going to focus on company X, but you get an e-mail on something that is a little bit more pressing, so you'll shift your focus and work on that instead. However, there are really two constants – an active engagement with a counterparty, or the review of some sort of commutation evaluation.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Enstar?
What advice would you give to someone just getting started at Enstar? My advice is simple: be curious, ask questions, and don't be afraid to take initiatives. One of the greatest strengths of our organisation is the depth of expertise and the collaborative culture that exists across teams. In Commutations, I work on multiple lines of business, and it's impossible to be an expert in everything. What I've found is that there is always someone willing to help, whether it's a colleague in Claims, at Cranmore (our specialist consulting subsidiary), or another area of the organisation. The ability to learn from others, build relationships, and tap into that collective knowledge has been invaluable and this is something that everyone should learn to leverage.

How does Enstar support your work life balance?
Enstar has an agile working environment that allows me to work remotely when needed, which helps me balance both my professional and family commitments. I also really value the wellbeing benefit programme; I have used it towards at-home fitness equipment which takes away the friction of going out for a workout even on the most demanding days. Having these benefits allow me to show up fully for my work, my wellbeing, and my family without the feeling of sacrificing one for the other.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be consistent and honest. It translates to both your professional and personal life, and it was something my parents always instilled in me.

And finally… Where’s your favourite holiday destination?
Costa Rica pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I recently went with the whole family, and our itinerary included a great mixture of city, mountain, and beach in one vacation. Not having signal in the middle of the mountains in Costa Rica is certainly interesting – you just hope you're going in the right direction!

Interested in joining Enstar?
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