Swiss Re Corporate Solutions appoints Michael Rüsch as Head DACH*, effective 1 April 2024. In this newly created role, Mr. Rüsch will be responsible for managing Swiss Re Corporate Solutions' strategy, development and performance in the German, Swiss and Austrian commercial insurance markets.

As of 1 April 2024, Bijan Daftari, currently Country Head Germany and Austria, will assume the newly created role of Head EMEA Strategy & Execution. In this function, Mr. Daftari will act as strategic advisor to the CEO EMEA Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, Nina Arquint, and support her in further developing and implementing the EMEA strategy.

Nina Arquint: "Michael is a very strong leader with broad industry experience and a proven track record. With his established customer and broker relationships, and deep market knowledge, he is very well positioned to drive Swiss Re Corporate Solutions' continued growth in the DACH region." She continued: "Bijan has been instrumental in transforming Swiss Re Corporate Solutions into a successful and very focused insurance partner of choice for corporates in Germany and Austria. With his strength to bring strategy to life from vision to implementation and his long-term perspective, he is the right person to support us in defining and executing our strategic ambitions and priorities."

Michael Rüsch has over 25 years' experience in the insurance industry. He held various managerial roles in underwriting with local responsibilities in Switzerland as well as regional responsibilities in Europe and Asia Pacific. He joined Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in October 2020 as Country Head Switzerland. Mr. Rüsch will be based in Zurich and holds a master's degree in applied psychology, leadership, and management from the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich.

Bijan Daftari spent most of his 25-year career in the German insurance sector and has held various positions in the primary market. He holds a degree in business administration from the University of Essen. Based in Munich, he joined Swiss Re Corporate Solutions in January 2017 as Country Manager for Germany.

*DACH region refers to the three Central European countries of Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH)