SI Re names ILS specialist Salzmann as Chief Underwriting Officer and Board member

Signal Iduna Reinsurance Ltd. (SI Re), a Switzerland based reinsurer located in the city of Zug, has promoted its insurance-linked securities (ILS) and retrocession lead Dr Robert Salzmann to become Chief Underwriting Officer and also appointed him to the Executive Board of the company.

Over the years, Salzmann has helped European-market focused reinsurer SI Re in developing and managing its risk appetite using both traditional and alternative forms of reinsurance capital.

He had joined joined SI Re in 2014 as an actuary, before being promoted to the role of Head of Pricing and ILS Analytics at the reinsurance company in 2017.

Then, in 2019, Salzmann took on the management of SI Re ILS Markets & Retrocession and was then promoted to also hold the role of Head of Underwriting in 2023.

Now, as Chief Underwriting Officer and a member of the SI Re Executive Board, Salzmann’s oversight expands further, but he will still keep his focus on ILS markets and retrocession.

The new positions are effective from January 1st 2025 and the company said, “With this decision, the leadership of
underwriting stays anchored in the executive management and integrally aligned with SI Re’s strategic direction.”

Bertrand R. Wollner, CEO of SI Re, commented on the news, “Robert Salzmann brings together our expertise in underwriting and the ILS markets.

“As a member of the executive management, he will further enhance the critical importance of these two areas, which have played a pivotal role at SI Re since its inception.

“Our presence in the reinsurance and convergence markets has established SI Re as a reliable and stable reinsurer. Under Robert’s prudent leadership, we will continue to pursue this successful path with determination.”

Prior to his joining SIGNAL IDUNA Reinsurance, Salzmann worked at KPMG since 2012, in the role of Assistant Manager, Quantitative Finance Group for global investment banks and insurance companies.