The International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) has announced the appointment of Ylva Wessén, President and CEO of Folksam (Sweden), as the Federation’s new Chair for a four-year term.
Wessén succeeds Rob Wesseling, President and CEO of Co-operators (Canada), who was appointed Chair of ICMIF at the Federation’s General Meeting in Rome (Italy) in October 2022.
The executive has been President and CEO of Folksam since 2019 and has extensive experience in the insurance sector, having held a number of senior positions during her 19 years with the organisation.
Her involvement with ICMIF, the global association for cooperative and mutual insurers, also began in 2019, upon joining its Board and Executive Committee, later becoming Vice-Chair for Europe in 2021.
Wessén has also served as Chair of Insurance Sweden, the Swedish insurance industry organisation, since 2022.
Before becoming President and CEO of Folksam, Wessén served as Deputy CEO and Chief of Staff at the organisation from 2016 to 2019. Her previous positions at Folksam also include Head of Risk and Compliance and Legal Counsel.
Speaking about her appointment as Chair of ICMIF, Wessén said: “I am very pleased and honoured to have been given the trust to lead ICMIF. The mutual and cooperative way of doing insurance is built on trust and a long-term perspective. It is more relevant than ever in a time of major change and compounding risks.
“Many of the challenges we face, such as climate change, geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological development, do not stop at national borders. Through ICMIF, we can learn from each other, share experiences and work together to strengthen the mutual and cooperative insurance model for the future.”
Wessén’s appointment was made during ICMIF’s General Meeting in Toronto (Canada), held at the start of the 2026 ICMIF Biennial Conference.
She is assuming her new position during a period of growth for the mutual and cooperative insurance sector, which achieved a record USD 1.61 trillion in premium income in 2024, maintained a 26% market share, and spans over 4,700 insurers holding USD 10.8 trillion in assets across 80 countries.
ICMIF’s 2026 Key Statistics report highlights that its 216 members across 54 countries surpassed USD 300 billion in premiums in 2025, holding USD 1.91 trillion in total assets.
Liz Green, Chief Executive Officer of ICMIF, said: “I am delighted to welcome Ylva Wessen as ICMIF Chair and look forward to working closely with her over the next four years. Having served on the ICMIF Board since 2019 and as Vice-Chair since 2021, Ylva brings a deep understanding of our Federation, its members and our shared ambitions for the mutual and cooperative insurance sector.
“I look forward to building on this strong foundation as we continue to strengthen ICMIF’s role as a trusted global network, sharing knowledge, insight and practical experience to help members achieve their strategic ambitions.”
During the 2026 General Meeting, ICMIF also announced its new four-year strategy for 2027–2030, Trusted to Deliver, alongside a refreshed organisational framework centring on its global network and member value.
