Qatar Re Appoints Van Der Straaten As CEO
Qatar Re announced the confirmation of Michael van der Straaten as the Company’s CEO. Earlier this year, he was appointed acting CEO of Qatar Re.
Qatar Re also announced the appointment of Pantelis Koulovasilopoulos as CUO – Long Tail & Specialty Classes. He formerly served as Qatar Re’s deputy CUO – Long Tail & Specialty Classes.
Sunil Talwar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Re, said: “We are pleased to announce that Qatar Re has decided to appoint Michael van der Straaten as CEO.
“Mike has fitted seamlessly into the position, building on his achievements as our former chief underwriter for Long Tail and Specialty Classes. We are convinced that Mike will bring Qatar Re’s ongoing transition to a business model based on lower volatility and more reliable profitability to a successful conclusion.”
Michael van der Straaten, CEO of Qatar Re, commented: “I am excited to take the helm at Qatar Re at a time when our company is increasingly generating its own business from market segments that we understand thoroughly. We embarked on this course more than two years ago and are starting to reap the benefits.
“Our expertise in these areas is obviously a major boon for us against the backdrop of stubbornly tough trading conditions in global [re]insurance. I am looking forward to working with the Qatar Re team towards positioning our firm as a profitable enabler of innovative and entrepreneurial business models in insurance.”
Michael van der Straaten joined Qatar Re in late 2016. In February 2017, he was appointed Chief Underwriter Office – Long Tail & Speciality Classes and joined Qatar Re’s Executive Management committee.
He started his career in Lloyd’s as a Box Manager and Non-Marine Property Treaty Underwriter. He joined Qatar Re from ACE Tempest Re, where he held the role of Deputy Head of London and Head of Casualty, overseeing the development of their international casualty and motor business. Prior to this, he held various underwriting positions with a primary focus on casualty lines alongside wider management responsibilities.
Pantelis Koulovasilopoulos joined Qatar Re in May 2017 as Deputy Chief Underwriting Officer Long Tail & Specialty Classes. He has over 27 years of experience in insurance and reinsurance. He joined from Chubb Tempest Re International, where he was the Chief Actuary. He was previously Group Chief Pricing Actuary for Aspen and Chief Pricing Actuary at Zurich Global Corporate UK.
