Swiss Re has appointed Ivan Gonzalez as the new CEO reinsurance China and China country president, while Katie McGrath will succeed him as the regional CEO for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in North America, both subject to regulatory approvals.
A Swiss Re veteran, Gonzales entered the insurance industry in 2001 as a financial analyst at Swiss Re Capital Partners in New York, where he assisted in several corporate development initiatives, including the acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions. He moved to Swiss Re Group Strategy in
Zurich in 2006 and then took on the role of CEO Latin America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2011.
Gonzalez has been the CEO of North America for Swiss Re Corporate Solutions since 2016, offering insurance capacity and customized risk transfer solutions to corporations in the United States and Canada. In his new role, effective July 01, 2022, Gonzalez will relocate from New York to Beijing and be responsible for all reinsurance operations in China while serving as Swiss Re’s president in the country. Gonzalez’s successor, McGrath, has over 25 years of experience across multiple roles in commercial insurance with expertise in underwriting, revenue and profit growth, integration and change management, product development, and strategy. Since joining Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in 2019, she has been responsible for the reinsurance giant’s accident & health portfolio in North America and an integral member of the management team in the same region. Before joining Swiss Re, she worked in several senior roles at AIG in New York. In her new role, she will be based in New York. Russell Higginbotham, CEO reinsurance Asia, said Swiss Re is committed to investing in China’s future and being part of a dynamic, high-growth market. Commenting on Gonzalez’s new role, Higginbotham said: “Ivan’s move is an exciting one as he brings his knowledge, global mindset, and fresh perspectives to support our clients in this strategically important country. His keen interest to understand China and its role in shaping the future of business and personal passion to help make the world more resilient will further strengthen Swiss Re’s position in the country.” Meanwhile, Andreas Berger, CEO Corporate Solutions, said he is confident that McGrath will accelerate Swiss Re Corporate Solutions’ strategic engagement with its customers and business partners in North America by further leveraging its risk knowledge and differentiated propositions.
