Reinsurance giant Swiss Re has announced that Ashley Hirst is returning to the company on June 8th 2026 as Head Portfolio Strategy & Steering, based in London.
Hirst first joined Swiss Re in January 2017 as Group Head of Underwriting Strategy, before moving over to Swiss Re Corporate Solutions as Chief Underwriting Officer, Standard Business, and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer.
Prior to Swiss Re, Hirst worked at global insurer AIG for more than four years, latterly as Chief Underwriting Officer and Chief Operating Officer at AIG Europe. Before AIG, he spent more than seven years with McKinsey as a Consultant.
Most recently, before his return to Swiss Re, Hirst has worked with a portfolio of startups and smaller insurance businesses, focusing on deep technology, underwriting, and capital management.
Kera McDonald, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, said: “Ashley’s extensive expertise in underwriting, capital allocation, and advanced analytics uniquely positions him to lead the evolution of Swiss Re’s Portfolio Strategy & Steering team.
“His leadership will help shape Swiss Re’s underwriting portfolio to maximize long-term financial performance while aligning with our risk, capital, and sustainability objectives.”
