Hannover Re eyes Asia Pacific growth with swoop for Swiss Re veteran

German reinsurer  Hannover Re has tapped a senior Swiss Re veteran as it looks to further expand its property and casualty reinsurance business in Asia Pacific, which the company believes is growing into one of the largest insurance markets worldwide.

Sharon Ooi will join  Hannover Re’s executive board in January 2023 and help strengthen its focus on Asia as a growth region.

Ooi comes from Swiss Re and will be primarily based in Hong Kong. She joined Swiss Re in Asia in 2006 and most recently served as the Sydney-based head of Australia and New Zealand. Before that, she held various positions at the reinsurer’s property and casualty business in Asia.

“With Sharon Ooi, we have been able to attract an internationally recognised expert for the growth region of Asia-Pacific to  Hannover Re,” said Torsten Leue, chairman of the Supervisory Board of  Hannover Re.

Jean-Jacques Henchoz, chief executive officer of  Hannover Re, added: “I’m delighted to welcome Sharon to Hannover Re’s Executive Board. She will play a crucial role in shaping  Hannover Re's further expansion in Asia-Pacific as the region is gradually evolving into the world’s largest insurance market. Sharon has proven her skills in various positions throughout the region and has an intimate knowledge of the markets.”

Ooi commented: “I’m thrilled to join  Hannover Re and am very much looking forward to further developing the company’s dedicated growth strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. I’m fully convinced of the future opportunities that the region I call home has to offer.  Hannover Re is very well positioned to partner with its clients in this important region.”

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