Swiss Re has reorganized senior property and casualty leadership across Europe and the Middle East through a series of market head appointments effective July and August 2026, placing experienced executives over regions where pricing conditions, underwriting competition and specialty risk activity continue to shift.
The changes follow last month’s appointment of Anna Ziswiler to lead Swiss Re’s P&C Re business across Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea from Singapore. Before that move, Ziswiler oversaw 20 markets spanning the Middle East, Pakistan, Israel, the Mediterranean and Switzerland.
Effective July 1, Rafael Schneider (pictured above, left) will become market head Mediterranean & Middle East. He currently serves as market head Germany, where he has led Swiss Re’s P&C business since 2022.
Schneider takes over responsibility for markets where underwriting conditions have become more competitive. Marsh data showed casualty insurance rates in Europe flattened after 21 consecutive quarters of increases, with capacity growth in Mediterranean markets contributing to competition among insurers.
The region also remains exposed to specialty risks tied to geopolitical instability. Morningstar DBRS reported in 2026 that insured losses linked to the Middle East conflict had largely remained within specialty insurance classes including marine war, political violence, aviation, energy and trade credit cover. The ratings agency said losses disclosed by global insurers and reinsurers had remained manageable relative to capital levels.
Before leading the German market, Schneider held senior roles in business development, regional management for Southern Africa and leadership of Swiss Re’s Global MGA & Client Review Team.
Kristina Franke (pictured top, right) will succeed Schneider as market head Germany on July 1. She has led Swiss Re’s P&C operations across the Nordics, the Netherlands and CIS markets since 2022.
Franke previously worked in actuarial product development at Generali before taking underwriting and solutions-focused leadership roles at Swiss Re.
Further management changes will take effect August 1.
Thomas Rauber (pictured immediately above, left) will assume responsibility for Switzerland and the Netherlands alongside globals key account management. Rauber has worked as global key account manager in Swiss Re’s Globals division since 2020, overseeing relationships with two Germany-headquartered global clients.
Before that role, he held underwriting and client management leadership positions in Southeast Asia and began his career at Swiss Re as a property treaty underwriter in Zurich.
Mira Kiridzic-Bügler (pictured immediately above, right) will add the Nordics & CIS to her existing responsibilities for Austria, Central and Eastern Europe. She has led Swiss Re’s P&C business across Austria, Central and Eastern Europe since October 2020.
Kiridzic-Bügler joined Swiss Re in 2002 and has held roles spanning underwriting, strategy, facultative business, human resources and client market leadership.
