R+V Re, a German reinsurer and part of the non-listed R+V Versicherung AG, has announced changes in its business leadership, promoting three long-standing employees to head different underwriting departments.
These promotions reflect R+V Re’s commitment to developing leadership internally, drawing on their extensive underwriting experience and deep market expertise.
Jessica Dear has been named Divisional Chief Underwriting Officer for Trade Credit, Surety & CPRI, effective 1st February 2026.
Falko Kontos will become Regional Chief Underwriting Officer North America / Head of Aviation & Space Worldwide, effective 1st April 2026.
Thomas Szech has been promoted to Divisional Chief Underwriting Officer Facultative / Special Lines, effective 1st July 2026.
Dear will succeed Kay Scholz, who left the company at the end of 2025. In her new role, she will lead an underwriting team, building on its long-standing client relationships and market expertise to strengthen R+V Re’s product offering and service in these lines.
She joined R+V Re in 2007 and has held various roles in both primary insurance and reinsurance underwriting. Most recently, she served as Underwriting Officer for Trade Credit, Surety & CPRI.
Kontos succeeds Peter Koob, who will retire at the end of July 2026 and has played a key role in shaping R+V Re’s underwriting approach across various territories, particularly in North America, over the past 37 years.
Kontos has been with R+V Re since 2009, joining as a pricing actuary. In 2013, he assumed the role of Property & Casualty (P&C) treaty underwriter for the North American market and has led the United States / Puerto Rico team since 2023.
Szech will succeed Harald Etzdorf, who has headed the department since 2014. Etzdorf will remain with R+V Re until his planned retirement at the end of 2028, with a particular focus on Casualty, ensuring a thorough transfer of responsibilities and knowledge in this line of business across the organisation.
Szech joined R+V Re in 2013 as a specialist for Casualty and has led the Special Lines team since 2021. He has successfully expanded the remit and capabilities of its Special Lines team and has also played a key role in establishing the company’s cyber treaty reinsurance unit.
“With these appointments we ensure continuity and stability within our leadership team”, said Holger Nieswandt, CEO of R+V Re. “We are proud to have filled all three positions with long-standing colleagues from within R+V Re. Their deep expertise, strong understanding of our culture and proven commitment to our clients will help us continue to grow our business in a stable and sustainable manner.”
Marina Sokolova, Chief Underwriting Officer of R+V Re, added, “With Jessica, Falko and Thomas, we are appointing leaders who combine strong technical expertise with modern, collaborative leadership skills.
“At the same time, we are also building on the work of colleagues who have led our underwriting activities for many years. We are very pleased that Peter Koob and Harald Etzdorf will continue to contribute their experience during the transition. This combination of continuity and fresh leadership perspective ensures the reliability and future-readiness that our partners can expect from us.”
