Howden hires Rowan Douglas as CEO, Climate Risk and Resilience

Howden, the international insurance group, has hired original Artemis co-founder and former WTW executive Rowan Douglas as its new CEO, Climate Risk & Resilience.

Douglas was integral to the creation of Artemis back in the late 1990’s, having a clear vision for the important role capital markets and securitization would play in the future provision of catastrophe and climate risk capacity.

Having sold the early insurtech company that Artemis was originally created under to Willis Group, Douglas then worked his way up at the company to become Head of the Climate and Resilience Hub at Willis Towers Watson (WTW), and Chairman of Willis Research Network.

In his time there, Douglas was integral to many of the highest-level discussions on the insurance industry’s role in global climate risk, and he was one of the minds behind some of the leading industry-initiatives we see today such as the Insurance Development Forum (IDF). He will continue in his role as Chair of the Operating Committee for the IDF.

He joins Howden to build an expert, full spectrum function focused on climate risk and resilience to support the group worldwide, embedding these alongside the group’s specialities and regions.

Charlie Langdale will now become Chair, Climate Risk and Resilience.

Douglas will be based in London and will report directly to David Howden, CEO, Howden.

Rowan Douglas, CEO, Climate Risk & Resilience commented, “I am thrilled to be joining Howden at this remarkable time in its growth and with climate central to its future development. My decision was driven by the company’s recognition, from the very top, that insurance capabilities are essential to de-risk the climate transition and protect lives, assets and livelihoods. I look forward to working with David, Charlie and the wider team and have already been empowered and enthused by the can-do, collaborative and entrepreneurial culture here at Howden. Our focus will be on embedding the work of the Climate Risk and Resilience division across all of Howden’s product lines and geographies, ensuring it supports our clients and partners.”

David Howden, Chief Executive Officer, Howden, added, “Tackling climate change requires the most substantial reallocation of capital in history, and insurance has a huge role to play across the mitigation, adaptation and resilience agenda. Meeting the challenge will take a global effort and radical collaboration across all industries, and between both the private and public sectors.

“To have someone of Rowan’s calibre join us demonstrates not only the credentials of our Climate Risk and Resilience team but highlights our desire to use insurance as a force for good. Our goal is to embed climate and resilience expertise across the insurance value chain, for the benefit both of existing clients and those who do not have access to insurance.”

Douglas is a significant addition to Howden’s efforts in the climate risk and resilience space, as he has deep contacts globally among the political, multi-lateral and donor funded organisation community and has worked at the top-levels of global climate discussion.

Howden said that, “Douglas’ appointment reflects Howden’s commitment that the insurance sector plays a critical role in the world’s response to the climate emergency, including the transition to a low carbon economy and supporting exposed populations and industries.”

“This appointment is an important step in accelerating the growth of Howden’s climate and resilience capabilities, and preludes further significant investment to create a platform for the future that meets the opportunity and scale of market demand over the coming decades. Insurance will be at the heart of how economies understand, manage and share these risks across geographies and generations. Howden’s climate and resilience capabilities will span physical risks, the risks associated with de-carbonisation, the wider risks stemming from the low carbon transition and growing legal liability risks faced by public and private sector organisations.”