Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
December 04, 2025
Swiss Re Appoints Nicole Pieterse as Chief People Officer in 2026
TLDR
- Swiss Re promotes Nicole Pieterse to Chief People Officer, leveraging her internal expertise to strengthen leadership continuity and maintain competitive advantage in talent management.
- Nicole Pieterse will transition from Head HR for P&C Re to Chief People Officer on January 1, 2026, following Cathy Desquesses's departure for personal reasons.
- This leadership transition supports Swiss Re's strategic people agenda, fostering organizational resilience and enabling continued progress toward making society more resilient through risk management.
- Nicole Pieterse brings over a decade of Swiss Re experience and deep HR leadership from financial services to her new Chief People Officer role.
Impact - Why it Matters
This leadership change at Swiss Re matters because it reflects strategic continuity and internal talent development in a key global reinsurance firm. As Chief People Officer, Pieterse will influence the company's human capital strategy, which is critical for navigating industry challenges like climate change, cyber risks, and an aging population. For stakeholders, including employees, clients, and investors, this transition signals stability and a focus on people-centric growth, potentially impacting corporate culture, innovation, and resilience in risk management. In the broader financial services sector, such appointments highlight the importance of HR leadership in driving transformation and sustaining competitive advantage, especially as companies adapt to evolving workforce dynamics and regulatory environments.
Summary
Swiss Re, one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, insurance, and insurance-based risk transfer, has announced a significant leadership transition in its human resources department. Effective January 1, 2026, Nicole Pieterse, currently the Head of Human Resources for Property & Casualty Reinsurance (P&C Re), will be promoted to Chief People Officer. She will succeed Cathy Desquesses, who is stepping down for personal reasons, specifically to focus on her health. Pieterse, who joined Swiss Re in 2015, brings deep HR leadership expertise and a strong track record from the financial services industry, having held various senior HR roles prior to her tenure at the company.
The announcement was made via a press release distributed through NEWMEDIAWIRE, with key executives expressing their support and perspectives on the change. Jacques de Vaucleroy, Swiss Re's Chairman of the Board of Directors, welcomed Pieterse to the Group Executive Committee, describing her as a "distinguished and highly accomplished HR leader." He also expressed regret but understanding for Desquesses's decision, acknowledging her instrumental role in shaping Swiss Re's path to renewed success over four and a half years. Group Chief Executive Officer Andreas Berger highlighted Desquesses's pivotal contribution to the company's transformation and expressed confidence in Pieterse's appointment from within the organization, looking forward to advancing Swiss Re's strategic people agenda with her.
For further information, the press release directs inquiries to Swiss Re Media Relations at Media_Relations@Swissre.com or by phone, and provides a link to access Swiss Re's press releases. The company, headquartered in Zurich and founded in 1863, operates globally through around 70 offices, focusing on making the world more resilient by managing risks from natural catastrophes to cyber crime. The release includes a cautionary note on forward-looking statements, referencing the Legal Notice section of Swiss Re's website for more details, and notes that the original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Swiss Re Appoints Nicole Pieterse as Chief People Officer in 2026
