Reinsurance giant Swiss Re has announced that Ashley Hirst will return to the company on June 8, 2026 as head of portfolio strategy and guidance based in London.
Hurst first joined Swiss Re in January 2017 as Group Head of Underwriting Strategy and subsequently moved to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, where he served as Chief Underwriting Officer for Standard Business and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer.
Prior to joining Swiss Re, Hurst spent more than four years at global insurer AIG, where he served as chief underwriting officer and chief operating officer of AIG Europe. Prior to joining AIG, he served as a consultant at McKinsey for more than seven years.
Most recently, before returning to Swiss Re, Hurst worked with a range of startups and smaller insurance businesses, focusing on deep technology, underwriting and capital management.
Kera McDonald, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, said: “Ashley’s extensive expertise in underwriting, capital allocation and advanced analytics positions him well to lead the development of Swiss Re’s portfolio strategy and steering team.
“His leadership will help shape Swiss Re’s underwriting portfolio to maximize long-term financial performance while aligning with our risk, capital and sustainability objectives.”
