Insurtech Buckle brings Munich Re Digital Partners boss Rear as chair

US-based technology-driven insurance and financial services company Buckle has appointed two industry leaders to help expand its insurance offering for gig workers.

Andrew Rear, CEO of Munich Re's Digital Partners, has been appointed Buckle’s new chairman of the board, while Kristi Matus of USAA has been named the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) and chief operating officer (COO).

Rear joined Munich Re in 2010, leading the Asia, Africa, and UK life businesses until 2016 when he took the role as CEO of Digital Partners. Previously, he was a partner and head of the EMEA insurance practice at Oliver Wyman.

Matus was most recently executive advisor for Thomas H. Lee Partners and CFO of USAA. During nearly a decade with USAA, she also served as president of Life Insurance and Investment Services and as president of the Life Insurance Company. She was also executive VP and chief financial and administrative officer at athenahealth and executive VP and head of the government services segment at Aetna. She currently serves on the boards of Cerence (CRNC), Equitable (EQH), and Alliance Bernstein (AB).

Marty Young, co-founder and chief executive of Buckle, said: “Buckle is rapidly moving in its mission to provide insurance, credit, and advocacy to Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) providers and platforms. As USAA has provided top-rated banking and insurance to military members and their families, we are passionate about doing the same for the gig economy. Kristi’s in-depth experience, from beginning her career as an actuary and quickly moving to the executive ranks of insurance, credit, and investment management will allow us to progress in our charge and navigate the company through rapid growth.”

Matus added: “Being part of the Buckle team allows me to utilize 30 years of experiences in a way that can truly transform finance and insurance to support the gig economy, consistent with economic and social changes that have occurred in the workforce.”

Rear commented: “I'm excited to be joining Buckle’s board. The gig economy is the most significant economic development of the last decade, and one which the insurance industry has yet to get a grip on. Through its products, analytics and technology, Buckle is the most comprehensive platform to address the distinct needs of gig workers.”