Swiss Re has appointed Bernhard Kaufmann as its new group chief risk officer (CRO), replacing Patrick Raaflaub.
Kaufmann currently serves as the group CRO at Helvetia.
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He will move to Swiss Re on 1 October 2025, the date on which Raaflaub will retire.
Kaufmann’s career in the reinsurance sector spans 17 years, during which he has held the position of CRO at NN Group and various senior leadership roles at Munich Re Group, including that of group CRO.
His academic background includes a PhD in theoretical physics from the Technical University of Munich.
Swiss Re chairman Jacques de Vaucleroy said: “We are delighted to have found a seasoned leader in Bernhard Kaufmann. With his deep expertise in risk management in the reinsurance industry, he is well equipped to navigate Swiss Re through the increasingly complex risk and regulatory landscape.
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By GlobalData“I would also like to thank Patrick Raaflaub on behalf of the entire Board of Directors for his great contributions at Swiss Re over the past years and wish him all the very best for the future.”
Last month, Swiss Re appointed Kera McDonald as its group chief underwriting officer (CUO), a position she will assume on 1 June 2025.
McDonald currently holds the role of CUO at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
Earlier in the month, Swiss Re announced the sale of its Australian direct life insurance portfolio to Hannover Life Re of Australasia.
