SiriusPoint has named Maria Tarhanidis (pictured above) as chief investment officer, effective December 2. Tarhanidis will be based in New York and will report to chief financial officer Jim McKinney.
In her new role, Tarhanidis will oversee strategic asset allocation, investment performance, and portfolio risk management for SiriusPoint and its direct subsidiaries. She will be responsible for developing and executing investment strategies that align with the company’s objectives and support long-term profitability.
Her appointment comes as the global reinsurance sector is experiencing a period of significant capital growth and evolving investment structures. Aon reported that global reinsurance capital reached approximately US$735 billion as of June 30, with alternative capital at a record US$121 billion.
Catastrophe bond issuance for the year surpassed US$17.3 billion by August, reflecting the increasing importance of investment leadership in navigating a market with expanding insurance-linked securities and heightened competition for returns.
Tarhanidis joins SiriusPoint with more than 25 years of investment leadership experience. Most recently, she served as managing director and head of alternative investments at Brighthouse Financial, where she led initiatives in private equity, private credit, and real estate equity. Her previous experience includes senior positions at MetLife, General Motors Asset Management, and Deutsche Bank.
She is also active in industry organizations, serving on the AIF Advisory Board, as a founding member of Women in Private Credit, and as a member of the Insurance Women’s Investment Network.
“Maria is a highly respected investment leader with deep expertise across asset classes and a great track record of delivering investment performance,” McKinney said. “Her strategic insight and knowledge will be instrumental as we continue to enhance our investment portfolio and support SiriusPoint’s growth ambitions.”
The sector is also seeing a broader adoption of sidecars, which are investment vehicles that allow third-party capital to participate directly in reinsurance risk. These structures have become a significant source of proportional reinsurance capacity, enabling insurers to manage claims volatility and diversify their capital sources.
“I look forward to working with Jim McKinney and the senior leadership team to build a world-class investment platform that drives value for our shareholders and supports our long-term strategy,” Tarhandis said.
