Howden Re, the reinsurance, capital markets and strategic advisory business of Howden Group, has expanded its presence in Iberia with the appointment of Filipe Duarte as Head of Howden Re Portugal.
Duarte took up the newly created role on 2 August 2026 and is based in Lisbon. His appointment gives Howden Re a permanent presence in Portugal for the first time, as the company begins a wider expansion of its activities in the market.
Duarte brings more than 16 years of experience in insurance, including over 12 years working in reinsurance. Before joining Howden Re, he was Head of Treaties at Aon Reinsurance, where he was responsible for advising insurers and arranging reinsurance programmes across Portugal.
His previous experience includes work across both treaty and facultative reinsurance, alongside advisory assignments involving complex and innovative solutions. Duarte began his insurance career with Willis in Lisbon in 2010 and subsequently worked in a number of client-facing and advisory positions.
Howden Re said his background provides experience across a broad range of insurance and reinsurance activities. Duarte holds a degree in Management, has undertaken executive education at Harvard University and recently completed an MBA at AESE/IESE Business School.
The appointment forms part of Howden Re’s plans to develop its business in Portugal, with the company expecting to add further experienced professionals to its local operation. Howden Re said the expansion is intended to increase the support and expertise available to Portuguese insurers while connecting the local business with its wider international network.
The move comes as Portuguese insurers face a range of changing catastrophe and reinsurance considerations. Howden Re highlighted the severe weather experienced during the opening months of 2026, including a succession of storms led by Storm Kristin during the first quarter. The company said these events have reinforced the importance of understanding secondary perils and using increasingly sophisticated catastrophe modelling.
Howden Re also identified the development of Portugal’s Natural Catastrophe Pool as an area where international reinsurance expertise could play a role. The wider Howden business is currently advising Spain’s Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros on the optimisation of its catastrophe pool, experience that Howden Re said it plans to draw on as it develops its activities in Portugal.
David Santos, Managing Director and Head of Iberia at Howden Re, commented: “Filipe’s appointment is an important milestone for Howden Re in Portugal. Since launching in Iberia, we have built strong momentum across Spain and Andorra, and establishing a dedicated presence in Portugal is the natural next step. Filipe brings deep technical expertise and a strong network built over more than a decade in the market, and he is exactly the right person to lead our growth there. We are confident this is the first of many steps in strengthening our offering to Portuguese insurers.”
Duarte added: “The market is evolving rapidly, creating challenges that demand deep technical expertise and innovative solutions. These developments present a compelling opportunity for Howden Re to support insurers with advanced analytical capabilities, global expertise, and a highly entrepreneurial approach.
“We believe the market is seeking a broker that offers the best of both worlds: the reach, tools, and resources of a global organisation combined with the flexibility, speed, and client proximity of a local partner. That is exactly the proposition we are bringing to Portugal.”
Tobias Andersson, Head of Continental Europe, Howden Re, said: “Portugal and Iberia are important markets for Howden Re and an important part of our ambitions across Continental Europe. Our approach is simple: bring together outstanding local talent with the expertise, analytics and reach of our wider business. Filipe’s appointment gives us a strong foundation in Portugal, and we’re excited to continue building the team and deepen the support we can offer clients across Portugal and Iberia.”
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