The Insurance Development Forum has announced the appointment of Denis Duverne as Chair of its Steering Committee, effective September 11.
Duverne, who succeeds Stephen Catlin, is Chairman of AXA Group and has held senior roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, at the global insurer since 1995.
“I would like to thank Stephen for his important contribution to the IDF as Chair. Over the past two and half years, he has managed to build an unprecedented public-private partnership. I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the IDF in leveraging the insurance industry’s extensive expertise for real impact,” said Duverne.
“From just a concept a few years ago, the IDF has mobilised an extensive network of experts and influencers in the insurance and development space and has made great strides in strengthening public-private dialogue. I’d like to thank the IDF founders and participants for all their hard work to get it to where it is today,” added Catlin.
The IDF is a public-private partnership led by the insurance industry and supported by international organisations. It aims to enhance the use of insurance to build greater resilience against disasters and to help achieve the United Nations Global 2030 Agenda.
Achim Steiner, UN Development Programme Administrator and IDF Steering Committee Co-chair., commented, “Stephen has been critical in driving the IDF to become the platform for private and public-sector collaboration on insurance and international development to achieve the UN development goals.”
“I look forward to working with Denis, a leader in the private sector, to take IDF to the next operational level.”
Joaquim Levy, Managing Director and World Bank Group CFO and IDF Steering Committee Co- chair, said, “With his wealth of experience in leading a multi-national re/insurer, Denis will be an invaluable asset in driving the vision of the IDF and its operational agenda, building on the strong foundations and partnerships created by Stephen.”
“When Stephen became IDF Chair in 2016 it was a promising initiative, but he transformed it into a comprehensive Steering Group of industry leaders and has taken it to an entirely different level,” added Rowan Douglas, Chair of the IDF Operating Committee and Head of Capital, Science and Policy Practice at Willis Towers Watson.
“I don’t know anyone else who could have taken this on and achieved it so successfully and we are enormously grateful for his drive and commitment. I extend my warmest thanks to Stephen and welcome the incoming chair, Denis Duverne to build on these rich foundations.”
