Zimbabwean actuary Tavaziva Madzinga has been appointed chief executive officer for UK and Ireland at Swiss Re, the world’s second largest reinsurer.
Madzinga succeeds Frank O’Neill who left the firm in September, and will assume his new role from January 2019.
Madzinga, currently market executive for the Middle East & Africa (MEA), will be based in London and remain a member of Swiss Re’s EMEA management team.
Madzinga joined Swiss Re in 2016 from Old Mutual, where he was regional CEO for South & East Africa. At Old Mutual, he was replaced by Jonas Mushosho, CEO of Old Mutual Zimbabwe.
Russell Higginbotham, CEO reinsurance EMEA, Swiss Re said: “I am delighted to have Tava as the leader of our business in the UK and Ireland. His strong and successful leadership of the Middle East & Africa region shows that he is the ideal candidate to lead and grow our UKI business. This appointment also shows our intention to continuously develop and grow the strong bench of talent we have at Swiss Re.”
Madzinga has a degree in actuarial sciences from the University of Cape Town. He also studied at INSEAD Business School in France and at Harvard University in the United States.
