Leadership Transition at Swiss Re as Nicole Pieterse Succeeds Cathy Desquesses in HR Role

Leadership Transition at Swiss Re as Nicole Pieterse Succeeds Cathy Desquesses in HR Role

(IN BRIEF) Swiss Re has appointed Nicole Pieterse as Chief People Officer, effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Cathy Desquesses, who will step down for personal reasons. Pieterse, currently Head of HR for Property & Casualty Reinsurance, joined the company in 2015 and brings extensive HR leadership experience from financial services. Swiss Re Chairman Jacques de Vaucleroy and CEO Andreas Berger thanked Desquesses for her contributions over the past four and a half years and expressed confidence in Pieterse’s ability to advance the group’s people strategy. The appointment reflects Swiss Re’s focus on leadership development and continuity as it continues its organisational transformation.

(PRESS RELEASE) ZURICH, 4-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Swiss Re (SWX: SREN), has announced the appointment of Nicole Pieterse as the company’s next Chief People Officer, effective 1 January 2026, succeeding Cathy Desquesses, who will step down for personal reasons. Pieterse, who currently serves as Head of Human Resources for Swiss Re’s Property & Casualty Reinsurance division (P&C Re), will join the Group Executive Committee as part of the transition.

Pieterse has been with Swiss Re since 2015, holding leadership roles across human resources functions and bringing extensive HR experience from earlier positions in the financial services sector. Her internal appointment reflects Swiss Re’s ongoing commitment to leadership development and continuity within the organisation.

Jacques de Vaucleroy, Chairman of Swiss Re’s Board of Directors, welcomed the appointment and acknowledged Desquesses’ contributions:
“The Board is pleased to see Nicole Pieterse enter the Group Executive Committee as a highly respected HR executive. We deeply appreciate Cathy’s leadership over the past four and a half years, during which she played an essential part in Swiss Re’s progress and transformation. While we regret her departure, we fully support her decision and thank her for her commitment and impactful service.”

Andreas Berger, Group Chief Executive Officer, also expressed his recognition and support:
“Cathy has been instrumental in shaping Swiss Re’s transformation journey, and we wish her well as she prioritises her health. Nicole brings strong HR expertise, deep industry knowledge, and proven leadership capability. I am confident she will help drive forward our people strategy and further strengthen Swiss Re’s culture and talent development focus.”

The leadership transition underscores Swiss Re’s emphasis on people strategy as a key pillar for future growth, with Pieterse set to steer the organisation’s global talent, culture, and workforce agenda moving into 2026.

About Swiss Re
The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 70 offices globally.

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SOURCE: Swiss Re