Michel Liés: Swiss Re CEO

Michel Liés was born in Pont-Sainte-Maxence, France in 1954. A citizen of Luxemburg he earned a mathematics degree at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. Before joining Swiss Re, Michel was Chief Financial Officer of a ceramics company serving in Sao Paulo and Mogi Guaca, Brazil.

In 1978, he joined Swiss Re focusing on Latin American Life & Health markets. Michel became head of Swiss Re Ibéria & Latin America Property & Casualty in 1994. He became a Member of Swiss Re’s Executive Board by 1998 and Head of the Latin America Division. Michel was Head of Europe Division starting 2000 and also served as the as the company’s Head Clients Markets, where he was in charge of all client relationships globally. He was a member of the Group’s Executive Committee beginning 2005.

From 2011 to 2012, Michel was Chairman of Global Partnerships. In this position, he concentrated on building and deepening long-term relationships with public sector stakeholders, governments and NGOs, with a specific concentration on emerging markets. Innovative insurance solutions and public private partnerships are vital to help society create effective responses to major risks, including natural catastrophes, climate change and food security as well as infrastructure, healthcare and longevity.

He left the board in 2011 when he became the Chairman of Global Partnerships which is largely viewed as an ambassadorial appointment that looked to distance him from future executive positions. So it came as a surprise to some when it was announced he would become the Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re effective February 1, 2012.  His appointed was viewed as continuity to the programs set by his predecessor and also his strength in emerging markets where much growth is expected.

Michel is fluent in French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish having worked in a number of countries in Europe and Latin America.

Swiss Re is a leading wholesale provider of reinsurance, insurance and other insurance-based forms of risk transfer.  In 2013, premiums earned and fee income totaled $28.8 billion.