Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide announces theavailability of Public Risk Services, a new consulting service tosupport the needs of public sector institutions and stakeholderscharged with managing catastrophe risk. John W. Rollins, vicepresident at AIR Worldwide, will head the new service group.

“Many public groups, including insurance commissioners, wind andearthquake pools, model evaluation commissions, federal insuranceprograms, prudential and solvency regulators, andquasi-governmental organizations, are increasingly concerned withthe micro and macro impact of disasters,” says Rollins. “Some areincreasingly bearing the risk on behalf of taxpayers. By offering adedicated service to these important organizations, we're fullycommitted to better serving the public sector as it managescatastrophe risk.”

AIR is establishing Public Risk Services to serve three distinctroles:

• Ambassadorial — a dedicated liaison to stakeholders in thepublic sector, keeping them abreast of AIR's research, software,and consulting activities
• Educational — focus on educating public institutions on therole and value of catastrophe models, including AIR products andservices
• Center of Excellence — a knowledge nexus regarding the role,structure, and risk-sharing frameworks of public risk pools

Rollins brings more than 20 years of experience as aproperty/casualty actuary in a variety of environments, includingpersonal and commercial lines insurance companies and global andregional consulting firms. In a previous tenure, he developed andled significant wind loss analysis and mitigation projects for theMississippi Insurance Commissioner and the Florida Division ofEmergency Management.

Rollins has also provided leadership during the process for theacceptance of AIR's new models by the Florida Commission onHurricane Loss Projection Methodology and testified before severalstate legislatures regarding catastrophe modeling issues ofinterest to the public. He also serves on the Board of Governors ofthe world's largest public insurance pool, Florida's CitizensProperty Insurance Corporation, appointed by Florida Governor RickScott.

“I couldn't be happier to lead a team of catastrophe riskprofessionals and to help the public sector get the full benefit ofAIR's scientific knowledge and perspective on disaster risk issuesand public policy,” says Rollins. “I believe the viewpoint I'vegained over recent years in the Florida insurance market andregulatory environment will translate to exciting new opportunitiesfor AIR to serve those charged with the public trust across theUnited States and worldwide.”

“We're pleased to launch a new service dedicated toserving the diverse needs of the public sector because disasterstouch all segments of the economy,” says Ming Lee, president andCEO at AIR Worldwide. “Our Public Risk Services group is anintegral part of our overall mission to help society betterunderstand and manage catastrophe risk.”