Starr has appointed Peter Hirs (pictured) as chief financial officer, effective Jan. 13, 2025, succeeding Howard I. Smith, who is retiring after 40 years of service in the company.
Hirs has over 20 years of industry experience, spending them at a global insurance carrier, where he managed regional finance teams across the world and led mergers and acquisitions activities.
In his new role, Hirs will supervise the organization’s global finance operations. He will be based at Starr’s head office in New York.
Smith had led Starr’s financial operations since 2005, when Maurice Greenberg, Starr’s chairman emeritus, re-established Starr as a free-standing investment and insurance organization.
“Peter will be a critical partner in achieving our global ambitions,” Starr’s chairman and co-CEO Jeff Greenberg said. “In addition to his excellent finance experience, he has demonstrated that he is aligned with our culture and values. We thank Howie for his many contributions, and we welcome Peter to Starr.”
Starr is a marketing name for the operating insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Company and for the investment business of C.V. Starr & Co. and its subsidiaries.
Last year, Starr appointed Bob Gadaleta to lead its newly created Twin Maples Specialty, a new arm within Starr Specialty Lines Insurance Agency.
Gadaleta joined the company from Nirvana, where he was head of insurance. He was appointed executive vice president of wholesale commercial insurance.
Twin Maples focus is the work with wholesale brokers to expand Starr’s footprint in an insurance market where wholesalers are increasingly prominent. It offers specialized products and services tailored to the needs of mid-sized and small businesses through a team dedicated to wholesale channel underwriting.