Lize-Mari Barnes : From Luxembourg, delivering Swiss Re's strategy to support clients in an increasingly complex world.

Lize-Mari Barnes (Swiss Re): Swiss Re's strategy, delivered from Luxembourg

Can you present Swiss Re in a few words?

Swiss Re is a leading global reinsurer headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with Luxembourg serving as the main legal headquarters for our European businesses. We apply deep expertise, data-driven insights and capital strength to anticipate and manage risk, supporting clients across reinsurance, insurance and B2B2C solutions. From Luxembourg, we run key legal entities for our reinsurance and insurance operations, including SRE, SRI and iptiQ Life, with branches across Europe and Asia. We are regulated by the CAA, and since 2018 also by the CSSF through SRCME, our investment firm focused on weather derivatives and insurance-linked securities. Our Luxembourg presence has grown significantly since 2007, both in scope and scale, with a team now of around 70 colleagues representing more than 20 nationalities. In addition, Swiss Re hosts investment funds in Luxembourg. With approximately USD 15 billion in gross written premiums and around USD 500 million in net income contribution, we remain a significant player in the Luxembourg re/insurance market.

“Our vision is to make the world more resilient.

How are your clients' needs changing and how are you adapting to them?

While the key topics in the (re)insurance industry remain largely unchanged from last year, the intensity and interconnectedness of risks continue to increase. Even in relatively benign years for peak natural catastrophes, the underlying risk is rising structurally, particularly through secondary perils, alongside economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability.This environment reinforces the need for insurers, corporates and the public sector to go beyond traditional risk transfer. Clients are looking for not only capacity, but also expertise in areas such as advanced modelling, exposure management and tailored, structured solutions that enhance balance sheet resilience and support long-term performance. The growing role of alternative capital and new risk-sharing mechanisms is also reshaping how capacity is deployed. In parallel, capital and volatility management remain immediate priorities for insurers. In this context, Swiss Re acts as a reliable partner - providing capital, expertise and innovative, tech-based solutions to help clients navigate complexity, absorb shocks and make informed decisions in an increasingly complex world.

What is your company's vision for the next 5 years?

Our vision is to "make the world more resilient" and that will continue. Today's volatile environment, as explained above, clearly echoes this sentiment and the critical role of reinsurance in the macroeconomic ecosystem. Underwriting is at the heart of what we do. We continue investing in data, technology and AI, as well as in our people and culture, to strengthen our core capabilities and ensure disciplined, performance-driven execution. We are fully committed to delivering on our financial targets and maintaining a strong, well-managed capital position, underpinned by Swiss Re Group's global diversification. With our refreshed Group strategy, we are sharpening our focus on amplifying our core business and driving profitable, sustainable growth. We are strengthening our execution discipline and client focus, enabling us to support our clients' progress and contribute to a more resilient economy. People, culture and technology are central to our ambition to advancing our industry and creating lasting value.