Claudia Cordioli
Managing director for Western and Southern Europe reinsurance;
Chief financial officer reinsurance designate
Swiss Re Ltd.
Zurich
Age: 48

In the next step of her varied career, Claudia Cordioli will take up the post as chief financial officer for Swiss Re Ltd.’s global reinsurance business unit early next year.

The role will allow her to combine the commercial insight that she has gained as head of Western and Southern Europe reinsurance for the company with the financial side of the insurance and reinsurance business, she said.

Born in Italy, Ms. Cordioli began her career as a consultant. She joined Swiss Re in 2003 and eventually became CFO for Europe, Middle East and Africa after holding roles as head of group external reporting and as managing director for Italy, Iberia and Mediterranean at Swiss Re.

Insurance, she believes, is something that enables progress and drives innovation.

“There are two things I am passionate about: people and numbers,” she said. Her work enables her to put both passions to use. In insurance and reinsurance, she said, “we put capital to work to help families and societies when they are in situations of need. There is a clear societal purpose.”

Diversity and inclusion within the insurance sector are also important to Ms. Cordioli, who is co-head of the Swiss D&I Council at Swiss Re. During her tenure, Swiss Re has extended parental leave for the second parent, which is beyond legal requirements in Switzerland.

Ms. Cordioli said she is heartened that about half of Swiss Re’s global workforce is now female and the company has a growing number of women in leadership roles.

Diversity is a “business need,” she said. “How can you understand your customers if your workforce decision-makers do not reflect and resemble them?” Young women entering the industry should not be discouraged by what they might perceive as a lack of female leaders but instead should see it as “something that can be disrupted.”

Moses Ojeisekhoba, CEO of reinsurance for Swiss Re, said she has done a remarkable job running the Western and Southern Europe region for reinsurance and that her appointment as CFO will ensure continuity.

In her spare time, Ms. Cordioli loves traveling and particularly enjoys relaxing in Venice.

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