Sompo taps Swiss Re exec for CUO role

Bermuda-based Sompo International has hired a senior Swiss Re executive as chief underwriting officer (CUO) and member of the executive team.

Risa Ryan (pictured) joins from Swiss Re where she served as global head of standard insurance products. Prior to that, she was senior vice president, head of analytics, North America at QBE. She started her career with Munich Re America, where she spent 27 years in various leadership and underwriting positions, including head of strategy and analysis.

as Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) and member of the executive team, effective May 15, 2023. Ryan will report to James Shea, CEO for Sompo International.

In this newly created position, Ryan will create a collaborative global framework exhibiting best-in-class underwriting and pricing tools to ensure a consistent underwriting approach, delivering products and services that address the multinational needs of our clients.

Shea said: “I’m delighted to welcome Risa to Sompo International. The role of CUO at this stage of our growth is critical to help ensure we continue to operate in a nimble way with a focus on our clients in every market. It is key we build the global underwriting communities and tools across all of Sompo International and collaborate closely with Sompo Japan as more and more of our products and exposures are global. With her wealth of experience and extensive knowledge of the insurance industry, I am confident Risa will play a critical role in the next stage of our organization.”

Ryan said: “I’m thrilled to join Sompo International at this point in time. I see a tremendous opportunity to further enhance the underwriting function and to contribute value to the business.”