Willis launches DACH fac reinsurance hub with Mapfre hires

Willis Towers Watson has launched a new hub to focus on facultative reinsurance business across the DACH region of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The company has appointed Gerhard Hurek and Zeljko Panić to establish the new hub from Munich, Germany.

Hurek will lead the hub as the head of DACH facultative reinsurance. Previously, he led the facultative business at Mapfre Re for Germany, Austria, and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region – a position he held for over a decade. Prior to this, Hurek spent 25 years in a variety of senior underwriting and client management roles at Swiss Re.

Hurek will be joined by Panić as executive director. Panić joins from Mapfre Re, where he spent a decade as head of treaty business for the CEE countries, having also previously worked at Swiss Re and Bavarian Re.

The launch of the new hub is part of Willis Towers Watson’s global strategy to further enhance its corporate risk and broking proposition in Western Europe by optimising placement solutions through facultative reinsurance.

The new hub will report to Mathias Pahl, head of corporate risk and broking for Willis Towers Watson Germany, and Ghassan Mansour, managing director of corporate risk and broking, and regional head of facultative reinsurance for Western Europe.

Pahl commented: "I am delighted to welcome Gerhard and Zeljko to the team. Their significant combined experience and impressive reputations will drive our strategy for facultative reinsurance as an enabler across Germany and the wider region. This will help deliver greater benefits and solutions to all our clients in an ever-challenging market environment."

Mansour added: "We are sending a clear message to the market that we have the drive and determination to become the leading facultative broker of choice for the DACH region. Our aim is to support insurance carriers to help them meet their strategic objectives through delivering technically advanced solutions. We will achieve this by drawing on Willis Towers Watson’s significant analytical capabilities, combined with the strength of experience of Gerhard and Zeljko, and the wider regional broking resource."

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