PartnerRe names Philippe Meyenhofer as CEO

PartnerRe, the Bermuda headquartered reinsurance company, has announced the appointment of Philippe Meyenhofer as CEO as its new CEO, as Jacques Bonneau prepares to retire.

The change at the top will take place on April 1st, when Meyenhofer will succeed Bonneau as Chief Executive Officer and take his place on the Board of Directors.

As part of this leadership transition, PartnerRe said that Jon Colello, CEO, P&C Americas, will take on the additional role of President of PartnerRe Ltd., giving him executive responsibility for all Non-Life Underwriting, reporting to Meyenhofer.

Over the course of the transition, Bonneau will delegate most of his duties to Meyenhofer and Colello, to ensure a smooth handover.

Meyenhofer joined PartnerRe in 2010 and was most recently a member of the Executive Leadership Team and CEO, Specialty Lines. Meyenhofer will remain based at PartnerRe’s Zurich office after the transition.

Colello is a member of PartnerRe’s Executive Leadership Team and since joining the firm in 2019 has had executive responsibility for leading PartnerRe’s Property & Casualty business in the US, Canada and Latin America, and for the reinsurer’s Health business in the US. He will continue to be based in Stamford.

Thierry Derez, Chairman of the PartnerRe Board of Directors, commented, “The fact that we are in the position to appoint PartnerRe’s next CEO and President from within the Company speaks to the strength and depth of talent in the organization. Together, Philippe and Jon bring a wealth of industry experience, proven business and leadership skills, and strong track record in underwriting combined with a deep knowledge of PartnerRe’ clients, brokers and employees.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Jacques for his stewardship as CEO and President over the past three and a half years. Under his leadership, the Company’s business, strategic positioning, financial results, and operational excellence have been strengthened in important ways. Jacques also led the successful transition to Covéa ownership. Jacques has been a very dedicated and strong leader and we wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Bonneau added, “I am proud of what we have achieved and the progress we’ve made in our various Business and Support Units and operations with the improvement in our executional performance and delivery for our numerous stakeholders. I am confident PartnerRe is well positioned for future success and Philippe, Jon and the Executive Leadership Team provide continuity with their in-depth knowledge and insight of PartnerRe’s people and business.”

Also announced today and effective immediately, Christian Mitterer takes on executive responsibility for Specialty Lines at PartnerRe as CEO, Specialty Lines and Ingrid Gjonaj joins the Executive Leadership Team as CEO, P&C EMEA.

As a reminder, PartnerRe has around $1 billion of third-party investor capital under management in reinsurance arrangements, deploying much of it via cells of its Lorenz Re structure.