Swiss Re Corporate Solutions unveils new country market units

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has unveiled a new organizational structure aimed at serving corporates and brokers more closely at the country level.

On Feb. 27, Swiss Re’s commercial insurance arm announced the introduction of market units, expected to be effective June 1. In Canada, James Gasco will serve as head of Canada’s market unit.

Gasco has been responsible for leading Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ Canada business since September 2023. He’s based out of Toronto and has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions will be divided into the following market units with their respective heads:

• Asia (Greater China, Japan, Southeast Asia): Robert Hunziker, Singapore
• Australia & New Zealand: Kevin Bates, Sydney
• Canada: James Gasco, Toronto
• France: Bruno Mostermans, Paris
• Germany (including Austria): Tina Baacke, Munich
• Ibero-America, Middle East & Africa: Angelo Colombo, Madrid
• Switzerland, Benelux, Nordics, Italy: Michael Rüsch, Zurich
• UK & Ireland: Nina Arquint, London
• United States: Adrian Hall, New York

The designated market unit heads will report to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions CEO Ivan Gonzalez.

“As the commercial insurance space is rapidly evolving, customer proximity is key when it comes to navigating the increasingly complex risk landscape,” Gonzalez says in a press release. “We firmly believe this new set-up will help us better address market-specific customer needs and further strengthen our partnerships.”

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions also announced on Feb. 27 that Katie McGrath, currently CEO of North America, will be appointed chief underwriting officer, effective June 1. She succeeds Kera McDonald, who is appointed Swiss Re’s Group chief underwriting officer as of the same date.

McGrath will continue to be based in New York, reporting to Gonzalez. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions reports “McGrath has more than 25 years of experience across multiple roles in commercial insurance with a proven track record of growing sustainable businesses, combining technical expertise with a client-focused mindset and leading high-performing teams.”

Feature image by iStock.com/istocksdaily

Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.