PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2008--RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) today announced that recently retired President and Chief Underwriting Officer, William ("Bill") Riker, received a Special Award at the 2008 National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, FL.

The Special Award celebrates Mr. Riker's outstanding contribution to the advancement of hurricane research and modeling. The Awards Committee noted his visionary leadership, supported by RenaissanceRe, to champion and fund some of today's most important hurricane and loss mitigation research initiatives.

These hurricane-related initiatives include the RenaissanceRe Wall of Wind facility at Florida International University which subjects full-scale buildings to Category 4 strength winds and rain in a reliable, repeatable testing environment.

Mr. Riker has also been instrumental in supporting the creation of a new attraction at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort which will combine experiencing what it feels like to be in severe weather with learning about the associated risks and ways to protect the home in an interactive and entertaining setting. Moreover, Mr. Riker spearheaded the Hurricane Risk Mitigation Leadership Forum, held in February in Orlando, FL, which brought together experts, scientists and policy-makers to advance hurricane mitigation efforts and awareness.

Max Mayfield, Chairman of the National Hurricane Conference, said: "Bill has devoted his career to modeling and managing the risks associated with natural catastrophes, as well as to hurricane-related research and mitigation. I am delighted that his work is being honored this year with this Special Award, and I look forward to Bill's continued contributions and innovations in the hurricane science and safety arena."

Neill Currie, President and CEO of RenaissanceRe, said: "For 15 years, RenaissanceRe has researched and modeled natural catastrophe risks as part of our business of providing reinsurance and insurance coverages in coastal areas. Bill led the effort to apply RenaissanceRe's business expertise towards advancing hurricane mitigation, and I am proud that the ultimate result of Bill's significant endeavors will be safer homes and families."

Bill Riker said: "I am honored to be recognized by the National Hurricane Conference, an organization that is contributing so much towards advancing storm preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation across America. By working together, I'm convinced we are moving ever-closer towards the goal we all share of saving lives and reducing economic loss in storm-exposed communities."

Mr. Riker joined RenaissanceRe in its founding year, 1993, and retired in December 2007 having served most recently as a Director, President and Chief Underwriting Officer with overall responsibility for enterprise-wide modeling and underwriting. Prior to joining RenaissanceRe, he was Senior Vice President at American Royal Re and was previously Vice President of Applied Insurance Research, Inc. Mr. Riker is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and holds a B.A. in Economics and B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University.

About RenaissanceRe

RenaissanceRe is a leading global provider of catastrophe reinsurance and insurance. Established in Bermuda in 1993, the Company is recognized for excellence in the industry through disciplined underwriting, capital management expertise, sophisticated risk modeling and responsive client service. RenaissanceRe is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 'RNR'. For more information, visit www.renre.com.

CONTACT: Investors:
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.
Fred R. Donner, 441-295-4513
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
or
Media:
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David Lilly or Dawn Dover, 212-521-4800

SOURCE: RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.