Howden Re Inspire: Meet Steven Bensinger
In our Howden Re Inspire series, we are proud to showcase our amazing team.
It’s important to us that the businesses and divisions within Howden Re reflect and contribute to the culture that we at Howden are so proud of. We are a global business with an entrepreneurial mindset, and we put our people first in everything we do. We value independent thinkers, celebrate different perspectives and experiences, and strive to make Howden a great place to work.
Our collaborative approach and collective power make us an industry leader, but it’s our people who make it possible!
Whether they’re forging a unique path in or outside business, leading the way on community impact, giving back, or D&I initiatives, or demonstrating what it takes to make a difference, we are proud to introduce you to our team.
Be Inspired by: Steven Bensinger, Senior Advisor, Howden Re
Meet Steve Bensinger, senior advisor at Howden Re. Steve began his career in 1976, in public accounting before moving into reinsurance and later insurance. Throughout his career, he’s held a range of roles across the (re)insurance industry, from advising and auditing to C-suite roles.
At Howden Re, Steve draws on decades of industry experience and a deep network of senior relationships to strengthen connections with clients and market partners. He focuses on building trust at the C-suite level and supporting strategic initiatives where his insight and relationships can create meaningful impact.
“I’ve spent my career in the industry, but what’s kept me engaged is how much it ultimately comes down to people; how we support them, how we show up, and the impact we can have beyond the transaction,” said Steve. “That perspective shapes everything I do today, both at Howden Re and outside of it.”
Alongside his work at Howden Re, Steve serves on several boards and committees, including Ronald McDonald House New York, where he’s currently Chairman of the Board.
Ronald McDonald House is a global non-profit organisation that provides a vital place for families to stay while their children receive critical medical treatment, offering both practical support and a sense of stability during incredibly difficult times.
“It sits at the intersection of healthcare and hospitality, bringing people together to support families when they need it most,” said Steve. “We’re constantly evolving how we support patients and their families.”
That support doesn’t happen in isolation. Over the years, the (re)insurance industry has played a significant role in helping the organisation grow its reach and impact.
“The insurance industry has been incredibly supportive of our mission,” said Steve. “Time and again, people step forward – whether through fundraising, events, or simply giving their time – and it makes a real difference to the families we’re there to help.”
Steve first began volunteering with the charity in 2004, stepping in as the MC for the foundation’s Skate with the Greats event after his colleague, Jerry de St. Paer, was unable to travel due to Hurricane Ivan’s impact in Bermuda. More than 20 years later, Steve is serving his second term as Chairman, having previously led the chapter through the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic began, he said the organisation went from more than 8,000 volunteers to none overnight.
“Chairing through the pandemic meant making decisions with no playbook and no certainty, but the one thing we were clear on was that we had to keep showing up,” said Steve. “Families had to decide, ‘Do we stay and fight for our child’s life, or go home and risk never coming back?’ If anything, that period reinforced that when people are at their most vulnerable, that’s exactly when you must be at your strongest for them.”
Three years ago, Steve experienced that reality firsthand when he began his own battle with lung cancer. In 2023, he was honoured by Ronald McDonald House New York.
“Going through my own cancer diagnosis changed everything. It took me from supporting the mission to truly understanding it,” said Steve. “The care I received, and the connection to the families we help, made it deeply personal and reinforced why this work matters so much.”
That experience has shaped how he sees his work across both the charity and Howden Re, and the wider role of the industry.
“After all these years in reinsurance, I’ve learned that the real value isn’t just in structuring risk, it’s in the relationships you build and the trust you show up with when it matters most. That’s no different from the work we do with Ronald McDonald House; at the end of the day, it’s about being there for people, especially when they’re facing the hardest moments of their lives,” Steve said.
Ronald McDonald House continues to welcome new volunteers and supporters globally. To learn more or get involved with the New York chapter, Steve encourages colleagues to get in touch.
