Sompo International snags Swiss Re leader for top underwriting post

Bermuda-based specialty property and casualty re/insurer  Sompo International has hired a chief underwriting officer (CUO), who joins from Swiss Re with a vast leadership background at Munich Re and QBE North America.

Risa Ryan (pictured) has been named new CUO and member of the executive team of Sompo International. She will report to its CEO James Shea.

In this newly created role, Ryan will be responsible for creating a collaborative global framework that embodies cutting-edge underwriting and pricing tools. Her primary objective will be to foster collaboration and implement a standardised underwriting approach to cater to the diverse multinational requirements of clients.

Ryan was most recently global head of standard insurance products at Swiss Re. Prior to that, she was senior vice president, head of analytics, North America at QBE. She started her career with Munich Re America, where she spent 27 years in various leadership and underwriting positions, including head of strategy and analysis.

Shea said: “I’m delighted to welcome Risa to Sompo International. The role of CUO at this stage of our growth is critical to help ensure we continue to operate in a nimble way with a focus on our clients in every market. It is key we build the global underwriting communities and tools across all of Sompo International and collaborate closely with Sompo Japan as more and more of our products and exposures are global. With her wealth of experience and extensive knowledge of the insurance industry, I am confident Risa will play a critical role in the next stage of our organization.”

Ryan said: “I’m thrilled to join Sompo International at this point in time. I see a tremendous opportunity to further enhance the underwriting function and to contribute value to the business.”

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