Description

Location:Sydney, NSW, AU

Are you a bold, commercially sharp executive leader ready to shape the future of reinsurance across one of the world's most dynamic markets? This is a rare opportunity to lead Swiss Re's Australia & New Zealand P&C Re business at the highest level - driving strategy, performance, and lasting impact across a region that matters deeply to our global portfolio.

About the Role
As Head of Australia & New Zealand, you hold end-to-end accountability for a large and strategically critical part of Swiss Re's global P&C Re portfolio. This is a role of genuine consequence - you own the performance, strategic direction, and execution across the ANZ markets, leading an organisation where your direct reports have clear authority over pricing, underwriting, claims, and portfolio outcomes.
You will be a member of the P&C Re Management Team, reporting directly to the CEO P&C Re. The role also carries formal regulatory responsibilities, including acting as Branch Manager of Swiss Re Asia Pte. Ltd., Australia Branch, and Managing Director of Swiss Re Life & Health Australia Ltd.
Key Responsibilities
Business & Market Leadership
Hold full accountability for top- and bottom-line performance across new and in-force business, delivering sustainable results across underwriting cycles
Define and execute a differentiated market strategy, positioning Swiss Re as the reinsurance partner of choice across ANZ
Strengthen the client franchise through disciplined execution, responsive commercial engagement, and consistent delivery against strategic priorities
Act as a market and thought leader, shaping industry dialogue and reinforcing Swiss Re's external positioning
Hold ultimate accountability for pricing, underwriting, and claims outcomes across ANZ
People & Organisational Leadership
Lead and develop the ANZ Management Team, setting clear expectations and fostering a high-performance, accountable, and collaborative culture
Serve as a member of the Location Management Team, representing the P&C Re team and ensuring location strategy, culture, and engagement are optimised
Build succession depth and bench strength through deliberate leadership development and active talent stewardship
Operations & Governance
Hold overall accountability for operational effectiveness and risk management across assigned locations
Ensure compliance with regulatory, governance, and branch framework requirements, including FAR accountability
Maintain strong oversight across functions end-to-end while driving continuous improvement and simplification
Regulatory, Government & External Engagement
Position Swiss Re as a credible and trusted counterpart to regulators and government bodies
Engage constructively on regulatory topics, contributing to policy discussions where appropriate
Represent Swiss Re in industry associations and key external forums
Board & Committee Responsibilities
Serve as Executive Director of the L&H subsidiary Board and the two local P&C Re & Corso Advisory Boards
Note: Appointment is subject to a fit and proper assessment

About You
We're looking for an exceptional executive who combines strategic vision with hands-on commercial leadership. You bring deep reinsurance expertise, outstanding stakeholder influence, and the ability to lead large, diverse organisations through complexity and change. You are decisive, entrepreneurial, and deeply committed to building high-performing teams and delivering outcomes that create lasting value.
We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:
Executive leadership experience within P&C Re, with a proven track record of setting market and portfolio direction and delivering sustainable performance across underwriting cycles
Strong commercial and market leadership capability, demonstrated through shaping market strategy, originating material opportunities, and strengthening relationships with key brokers and clients
Sound underwriting and portfolio judgement, with the authority to balance growth, capital efficiency, and risk discipline - and the confidence to intervene decisively where outcomes are at risk
Executive presence and stakeholder influence, enabling effective engagement with C-suite clients, brokers, regulators, and senior internal stakeholders, including within an ExCo-level environment
Proven ability to lead leaders and large, diverse organisations, building high-performing teams across geographies and embedding a strong performance culture
These are additional nice to haves:
Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, combining long-term market vision with disciplined execution and a clear focus on value creation
Strong cross-functional and international perspective, with experience navigating complex regulatory and cultural environments across the Asia-Pacific region
Highly developed judgement and decision-making capability, including the confidence to manage complex trade-offs and take ownership for outcomes in ambiguous or high-stakes situations
Familiarity with Australian regulatory frameworks, including APRA requirements and FAR (Financial Accountability Regime) obligations
Experience engaging with government bodies, industry associations, and external forums at a senior representative level

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.

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Reference Code: 138011

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