Young assumed the new responsibility on 1 January 2025. Credit: T. Schneider/Shutterstock.

Fairfax Financial Holdings has appointed Brian Young as the president of Fairfax Insurance Group, succeeding Andrew Barnard, who has now become the chairman of the insurance unit.  

The leadership overhaul took effect on 1 January 2025.  

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Prior to this, Young had been the CEO of Odyssey Group, a role he held since 2011. He joined Odyssey Group in 1996. 

Under his leadership, Odyssey has achieved an underwriting profit for 13 consecutive years and nearly tripled in size.  

Simultaneously, Carl Overy has stepped into the role of CEO of Odyssey, overseeing its three operating platforms – OdysseyRe, Hudson, and Newline.  

Overy has been CEO of OdysseyRe since April 2023. 

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Prior to this, he was the CEO of Newline and the London branch of OdysseyRe for 15 years. 

Fairfax Financial CEO and chairman Prem Watsa commented: “Brian and Andy have worked together for nearly 35 years, the last 28 at Fairfax. Our expansive global (re)insurance operations will benefit greatly from their collective oversight. Carl is a proven leader who has devoted more than two decades of his life to Odyssey. We have no doubt that Odyssey will scale new heights under his leadership in the years to come.” 

Fairfax Financial is a Canadian holding company that operates through its subsidiaries in property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and investment management.  

Odyssey Group Holdings offers reinsurance and specialty insurance services.  

Last month, Fairfax Financial completed the acquisition of the remaining 13.8% stake in Brit from OMERS, the pension plan for Ontario’s municipal employees.  

With the deal, Fairfax Financial gained sole ownership of Brit.