Veronica Scotti
President and CEO, Canada and the English Caribbean
Swiss Re Ltd.
Toronto
Age: 45

Diversity and inclusiveness are priorities for Veronica Scotti.

“I am a strong advocate of taking all the opportunity we can to show inclusiveness, whether with gender, minorities, lifestyles and thoughts,” said Ms. Scotti, Toronto-based president and CEO for Canada and the English Caribbean at Swiss Re Ltd.

“Bringing together these diverse perspectives is something the industry can do and should do,” she added.

Shared values forge a strong connection with her employer, Swiss Re.

“I didn’t get pulled into insurance in the beginning, but I certainly chose to stay, and Swiss Re’s vision to make the world more resilient propels me every day,” Ms. Scotti said.

She spent the first six years of her career in investment banking, at one point training to become a derivatives trader.

In 1999, her firm, Fox-Pitt Kelton, was acquired by Swiss Re as part of the convergence in professional services in the financial industry, she said. Fortunately, her education gave her the background to find a home with Swiss Re after the deal.

“I was pretty good with math, so I ended up studying for degrees that would allow me to do a variety of things while honing my analytical skills. In my master’s, I focused on economics, finance and actuarial math.” Ms. Scotti said.

The array of skills and training served her well as she transitioned careers from investment banking to reinsurance.

Eric Smith, president and CEO of Swiss Re Americas, spoke of “the great job she has done leading our Canada reinsurance operations. Her commitment to excellence and constant improvement have impressed me and energized the team in Canada.”

Ms. Scotti said she believes she has seen progress during her tenure.

“Throughout my career, I came across a good set of opportunities and I have taken chances, but it wasn’t always easy and sometimes I felt, especially in my early years, that there were biases,” Ms. Scotti said.

“I think we have come a long way. The insurance industry, especially in Canada, is quite diverse,” she said.

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