Barbados-based reinsurer Ocean International Re (Ocean Re) has promoted Diego Cervantes-Knox to group chief executive officer (CEO), effective July 2, 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Cervantes-Knox joined the reinsurer in 2025 as chief operating officer (COO).
“My focus will be on our people and customers. Ocean Re is what it is today because of the talent, dedication and integrity of our colleagues across the group. Together they have built a great business, a strong platform for the future and the culture that makes Ocean Re such a special place,” said the new CEO.
Ocean Re said it remains focused on delivering value to customers, brokers, partners and stakeholders. “We look forward to Diego’s leadership during this period and continued execution of our long-term goals,” the company said.
Cervantes-Knox currently serves as a non-executive director and chairman of the finance and audit committee, as well as a non-executive director of Plane Saver Credit Union. Director and Board Member of The Growth Company.
He is also an independent director and a member of the Finance Committee of King’s College London. Previously, Cervantes-Knox spent more than seven years at PwC in senior roles including Equity Partner in Insurance, Assets and Wealth Management, Lead Partner in Technology Delivery, Cloud and Digital Transformation, and Director and CFO Consulting in Corporate Finance and Transformation (Financial Services).
Cervantes-Knox also served as Director of Corporate Performance and Transformation (Financial Services) at EY, Director of Portfolio Management and Transformation Technology at RSA, and Senior Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at Hiscox and Chubb.
Prior to entering the reinsurance industry, he had ten years of experience at Google (R&D – Financial Services), 3i Group (Private Equity), McDonald’s (Corporate Finance) and held consulting roles in performance improvement and financial transformation.
Cervantes-Knox commented, “I am deeply grateful for the trust the Board of Directors has placed in me. I would also like to thank Guillermo Eslava for his leadership and the strong foundation he has helped build. I wish Guillermo success in his next chapter. I have never taken trust lightly, whether it is from colleagues, customers, mentors or shareholders. I know that this responsibility must be earned every day by how we lead, how we listen and how we deliver.”
He continued: “To our clients and partners, thank you for your continued trust. We remain committed to delivering the expertise, innovation and service you have come to expect to help you navigate an increasingly complex world. I am also deeply grateful to the many people who have invested in my journey over the years, particularly during my time at PwC.
“I am sincerely grateful to Jim Bechard, Tom Brown and the incredible PwC team for their guidance, friendship and support over the past decade. Special thanks to Glynn Austin Brown, Catherine Barton, Paul Cooper, Glenn Catton, Kenny Leitch and the many others who have challenged, encouraged and believed in me along the way.
“I take on the responsibilities of this new role with optimism and enthusiasm. I am excited about what we will achieve and look forward to working with our outstanding executive and management teams to continue building an outstanding global reinsurance business.”
