Insurtech Insights takes a closer look at the latest key appointments and what they signal about the evolving landscape of insurance.
Company: Swiss Re
Move: Kera McDonald Appointed Swiss Re’s Group Chief Underwriting Officer, Patrick Raaflaub to Retire
Swiss Re has announced significant leadership changes, including the appointment of Kera McDonald as its new Group Chief Underwriting Officer, effective June 1, 2025, pending regulatory approval. Additionally, Group Chief Risk Officer Patrick Raaflaub will retire at the end of September 2025.
McDonald, currently Chief Underwriting Officer at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, brings over 30 years of industry experience to her new role. She joined Swiss Re in 2006 and has held various specialist and leadership positions, becoming a member of the Corporate Solutions Executive Committee in 2019 and Chief Underwriting Officer for the business unit in 2022.
In her new role, McDonald will be responsible for enhancing underwriting practices across Swiss Re’s business units, overseeing group capacity allocation, setting mid-term underwriting goals, and approving complex transactions.
Patrick Raaflaub, Swiss Re’s Group Chief Risk Officer, will retire at the end of September 2025 after a 25-year career with the company.
Company: Bridgehaven
Move: Former Lloyd’s CRO Giles Taylor Joins Bridgehaven Leadership
Bridgehaven, a UK-based hybrid insurer, has announced the appointment of Giles Taylor, former Chief Risk Officer (CRO) at Lloyd’s, to its leadership team. Taylor brings over 25 years of extensive insurance market experience to the role, bolstering Bridgehaven’s strategic capabilities.
Taylor’s career spans key positions within both the Lloyd’s and company markets. He spent 16 years at Lloyd’s, holding a variety of senior risk and international regulatory roles. Most recently, he served as CRO for the Corporation’s Brussels venture. Prior to his tenure at Lloyd’s, Taylor spent nine years at Ace (now Chubb) in legal and compliance roles, providing a strong foundation in regulatory and operational expertise.
Company: AIG
Move: Emma Woolley Named CEO of AIG’s Talbot Underwriting
AIG’s Talbot Underwriting, a prominent international insurer and reinsurer operating within the Lloyd’s specialist marketplace, has announced the appointment of Emma Woolley as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective March 2025.
Talbot, operating through Syndicates 1183 and 2019, has been a part of AIG since the company’s 2018 acquisition of Validus for $5.56 billion. Headquartered in London, Talbot also maintains offices in New York and Singapore, offering a diversified portfolio of insurance and reinsurance products. Syndicate 2019 provides Lloyd’s investors with access to AIG’s Private Client Select portfolio.
The appointment follows AIG’s 2020 announcement of Chris Rash as CEO. However, industry sources confirm that Emma Woolley, a seasoned insurance and reinsurance professional, has now assumed leadership of the company. Woolley’s extensive experience is expected to drive Talbot’s continued growth and strategic development within the competitive Lloyd’s market.
Company: Howden Re
Move: Howden Re Strengthens DACH London Team with Nicolò Forcellini Hire
Global reinsurance broker Howden Re has appointed Nicolò Forcellini as Director to its DACH London team, specifically within Howden Re Fac.
Forcellini will report to Tom Sharman, Managing Director of Howden Re Fac. The addition aims to bolster Howden Re’s London facultative broking capabilities and reinforce its position as a market leader in the sector.
Price Forbes Re (PF Re) has announce the appointment of Sherman Power to the newly created role of Executive Vice President, Alternative Risk and Capital Solutions. Based in Dallas, Texas, he will report to Pat Rastiello, CEO Price Forbes Re, North America.
Company: Lockton Re
Move: Lockton Re Appoints Eric Paire to Lead Capital Advisory Practice
Lockton Re, the reinsurance division of independent insurance broker Lockton, has named Eric Paire as Head of its Capital Advisory Practice in London.
Paire joins Lockton Re after nearly seven years as Head of Capital Advisory at Aon. His extensive experience also includes serving as Head of Global Partners & Strategic Advisory EMEA and Director of GC Securities at Guy Carpenter, a Marsh McLennan company. He initially joined Guy Carpenter in Paris in 2007 before relocating to London in 2013.
Paire’s career includes senior positions at SCOR, Le Blanc de Nicolay, and AXA Re.
He also served as Director of Perils AG and was a founding partner of two startups, Nexgen Financial Holdings and NessPa. Sources and related content
Company: Apollo
Move: Apollo Names Gina Gill Chief Information Officer
Apollo has appointed Gina Gill as its new Chief Information Officer, effective March 2025.
Gill brings over 17 years of experience in digital transformation, technology strategy, and operational leadership to the role. She joins Apollo from the Cabinet Office, where she served as interim Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to that, she was the Chief Digital & Information Officer at the Ministry of Justice.
Gill’s career also includes senior positions at the Financial Conduct Authority, Barclays Capital, and Lloyds Banking Group, where she focused on digital innovation, IT service management, and commercial negotiations.
In her new role at Apollo, Gill will lead the company’s continued adoption of technology, tools, and data solutions, including advanced analytics initiatives, to support its strategic goals. Sources and related content
Company: Swiss Re
Move: Swiss Re Appoints Marilyn Blattner-Hoyle to Lead Public Sector Solutions
Swiss Re, a global reinsurer, has announced the appointment of Marilyn Blattner-Hoyle as Head of Public Sector Solutions, effective April 1, 2025.
Blattner-Hoyle will succeed Veronica Scotti, who is departing Swiss Re after more than 25 years of service. Scotti held various leadership roles within the group, including Managing Director, President & CEO for Canada and the English Caribbean, and most recently as Chairperson of Public Sector Solutions since 2018.
Blattner-Hoyle joined Swiss Re in 2021 as Global Head of Trade Finance, Trade Credit & Working Capital Solutions. Prior to joining Swiss Re, she served as Managing Director and Global Head of Trade Finance at AIG for over five years. She also has experience as an International Banking and Finance Associate at Hogan Lovells.
Company: AXA XL
Move: AXA XL Appoints Sylvie Gleises as Regional CEO, Asia
AXA XL Insurance has announced the appointment of Sylvie Gleises as Regional Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Asia, effective March 24, 2025.
Gleises brings two decades of insurance industry experience to the role, having held multiple senior leadership positions within the AXA Group since 2006. Her previous roles include CEO of Continental Europe & Global Head of Distribution & Marketing at AXA Art, as well as Head of Revenue Synergies and Head of Client Management at AXA XL. Most recently, she served as CEO of AXA XL Singapore Insurance.
Based in Singapore, Gleises will now oversee AXA XL’s strategic direction and operations across the Asia region. She succeeds Gilles Fromageot, who has been appointed CEO of AXA Morocco and CIMA. Sources and related content
Company: Coverys
Move: Coverys Appoints Naveed Anwar as Chief Financial Officer
Coverys, a provider of medical professional liability (MPL) insurance and healthcare risk management services, has appointed Naveed Anwar as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Anwar will report directly to President and CEO Joseph G. Murphy, and will lead strategic financial initiatives focused on driving growth and optimizing capital management.
With over 25 years of financial expertise, including a decade as a CFO in the MPL sector, Anwar will oversee Coverys’ financial functions and provide data-driven insights for the company’s expansion plans.
Prior to joining Coverys, Anwar served as CFO at MagMutual Insurance. His career also includes serving as CFO for the North American Region of Catlin, part of XL Catlin, and senior finance and consulting roles at AIG, American Express, and PwC.
Company: Tokio Marine HCC International (TMHCCI)
Move: TMHCCI Promotes Camilla Gower to Head of Marine and Energy Liability
Tokio Marine HCC International (TMHCCI), a subsidiary of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies, has announced the promotion of Camilla Gower to Head of Marine and Energy Liability, effective April 1, 2025.
Gower will lead the team and drive growth in this key market for the carrier, reporting to Ben Kinder, Chief Underwriting Officer for Marine, Energy, and Renewables.
With 15 years of marine underwriting experience, Gower has been with Tokio Marine HCC since 2020, most recently as Senior Underwriter – Marine & Energy Liability. Her prior experience includes serving as Joint Head of Marine & Energy Liabilities at StarStone Insurance, and positions at CNA Hardy, Aegis, and WTW.
Company: New Dawn Risk Group
Move: Jack Keilty Joins New Dawn Risk Group to Lead Management Liability and Financial Institutions
Specialist insurance intermediary New Dawn Risk has announced the appointment of Jack Keilty as Head of Management Liability and Financial Institutions.
Based in London, Keilty will report to the US broking team, working alongside James Bullock-Webster, Head of US Broking.
Keilty brings over a decade of experience in the London international financial lines market, joining from Price Forbes where he was a Director in the Professional & Financial Lines team. Prior to that, he spent five years at JLT Specialty as Vice President in its Financial Lines Group.
Company: Willis
Move: Willis Appoints Helen Campbell Head of Property Wordings in North America
Willis, a WTW business, has appointed Helen Campbell as Head of Property Wordings in North America.
Based in Bermuda, Campbell will oversee property policy language, terms, and conditions across WTW’s insurance and reinsurance businesses, reporting to Scott Pizzi, Head of Property Broking, North America.
Campbell brings over 25 years of industry experience to the role, joining from Argo Group where she was SVP and Head of Contract Wordings. She previously held roles at Ironshore Insurance, and returns to Willis where she began her career in contract wordings.
Company: Sedgwick
Move: Sedgwick Appoints Kumar Siva Chief Operating Officer in Canada
Sedgwick has appointed Kumar Siva as Chief Operating Officer in Canada.
Siva, who joined the company in 2023, previously served as Senior Vice President for third-party administration (TPA) services and desktop solutions.
He brings over 20 years of experience in the insurance services sector, and prior to joining Sedgwick, held senior leadership roles overseeing service delivery to Canadian national insurers, vendor management, and independent adjusting operations.
In his new role, Siva will focus on operational efficiency and customer experience as Sedgwick expands its presence in Canada.
