Howden Re continues cyber expansion with key appointment

Howden Re continues cyber expansion with key appointment | Insurance Business Asia

Reinsurance

Howden Re continues cyber expansion with key appointment

Division has seen several senior hires over the past year

Reinsurance

By
Kenneth Araullo

Howden Re has expanded its cyber reinsurance capabilities with the appointment of Harriet Gruen (pictured above) as head of cyber threat intelligence, based in London.

The reinsurance specialist highlighted that its cyber reinsurance team has experienced rapid growth as demand for cyber reinsurance services increases.

The new threat intelligence function will play a key role in this strategy, developing bespoke scenarios for clients and keeping carriers informed as cyber catastrophe events unfold.

Howden Re said that it anticipates that cyber carriers will adopt a more catastrophe-focused approach to reinsurance and retro buying, an area where the cyber team has significant expertise.

Gruen brings eight years of cyber industry experience, most recently at global insurers. At AXIS Capital in London, she was a senior cyber risk advisor, contributing to the listing of the first 144A cyber catastrophe bond and leading investor education on cyber risk.

She also held a role at Tokio Marine Holdings, where she designed cyber scenarios and delivered technical training. Gruen’s earlier positions included roles at HSBC and Digital Shadows in London, and in the Department of the Australian Prime Minister. She holds an MSc from the London School of Economics.

Over the past 14 months, Howden Re has strengthened its cyber reinsurance practice with several senior hires:

Luke Foord-Kelcey: Joined in October 2023 as global head of cyber
Matthew Webb: Appointed in May 2023 as head of cyber clients & strategy
Mark Lynch: Joined in October 2023 as head of cyber data & analytics
Toby Lampier: Appointed in July 2023 as head of cyber broking & markets
Jack Sandford: Joined in October 2023 as a director in cyber reinsurance
Cecilia Assmundson: Joined in July 2023 as an associate director.

Additional senior hires with significant cyber reinsurance experience include:

Wolfram Schultz: Appointed in January 2024 as head of casualty treaty reinsurance for Continental Europe
Paddy Bousfield: Joined in April 2024 as managing director in Bermuda
Anke Salm: Appointed in June 2023 as head of Germany, Austria & chief broking officer

What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.