Swiss Re announces head of Australia and New Zealand businesses

Swiss Re has appointed Trent Thomson (pictured above) as head of Australia and New Zealand, effective Nov. 1. He replaces Sharon Ooi, who left the role in July.

Pending regulatory approvals, Thomson will also take the roles of branch manager of Swiss Re Asia’s Australia Branch, managing director of Swiss Re Life & Health Australia, and country president of Australia and New Zealand.

Thomson has been in the industry for more than 25 years, with experience in underwriting, portfolio management, client sales and leadership roles. He joined Swiss Re in 2004 as a senior casualty treaty underwriter. In 2013, he moved to the US to take up various leadership roles within Swiss Re’s casualty treaty and costing teams before returning to Sydney as head of P&C for ANZ in 2019. Prior to Swiss Re, he worked with Royal & Sun Alliance, American Insurance Group and Munich Re.

“Australia and New Zealand has always been an integral part of Swiss Re’s business in APAC,” said Paul Murray, Swiss Re’s chief executive officer for reinsurance in Asia. “We are pleased to see Trent step into the role, reflecting the strength of our talent pool and capabilities of our management team. With deep understanding of the market, coupled with his proven experience, Trent is well-positioned to lead the team in delivering high-quality services to support our clients’ success in this important market.”