Free Trial

Reactions Copying and distributing are prohibited without permission of the publisher

CRO RISK FORUM: Risk managing the future

28 July 2009

Swiss Re’s chief risk officer Raj Singh and Zurich’s chief risk officer Axel Lehmann suggest what risk managers and (re)insurers can do to ensure they are better prepared for the next financial crisis

The financial crisis has demonstrated the need to strengthen risk management practices in international financial services organisations. It also showed up the limitations of a patchwork system of supervision that no longer reflects the reality of cross-border businesses. Although the crisis is by no means over and despite the fact that the (re)insurance industry was far less affected than the banking industry, the (re)insurance industry is already in a position to draw some lessons learned from the turmoil.

The financial crisis has made clear the importance for (re)insurance companies of pre-emptive and independent risk management. The increasingly complex and globalised nature of the (re)insurance business means we need a more international approach to regulation and one that brings greater transparency to the activities we undertake. By supporting efforts to create a new regulatory framework that takes these developments into account, we can help restore confidence to the industry and make...


  • Peru Earthquake Mw6.3 30 Jan 2012 - Updated 1 February. On Monday, 30 January a magnitude Mw6.3 (regional moment ...
  • US Severe Convective Storm 24 Jan 2012 - A severe weather outbreak across the southern U.S. late Sunday, 22 / ...
  • Tropical Cyclone Heidi 12 Jan 2012 - Around 18:30UTC on Wednesday, 11 January (04:30am Wednesday, 12 January, local time) ...
For more catastrophe reports, data and news, click through to the RMS/Reactions Catastrophe Centre.

Poll

Catastrophe bond issuance was $4.3bn in 2011. How much new issuance will there be in 2012?

Less than $3bn
0%
$3bn-$4bn
0%
$4bn-$5bn
0%
$5bn-$6bn
100%
$6bn-$7bn
0%
More than $7bn
0%

Quote

If last year was the year of the cat, then this year could be the year of the debt crisis.

Mike Van Slooten, head of international market analysis at Aon Benfield