Press Release
New York, October 19, 2025 – The duty to create more risk transfer capacity and innovative solutions was a key topic discussed at today’s Baden-Baden Reinsurance Symposium entitled (Re)insurance Strategies and Opportunities in a Fragmenting World. The annual Symposium, hosted by Guy Carpenter, a leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), included speakers from Hanover Re, Zurich Insurance, Descartes Underwriting, Guy Carpenter and Marsh, another Marsh McLennan business.
Laurent Rousseau, CEO, EMEA and Global Capital Solutions, Guy Carpenter, commenting on the theme of the symposium said: “While the universe of risks is expanding, the world is fragmenting. Organizations are seeking new opportunities while having to navigate the most complex set of risk challenges in a generation. For the (re)insurance industry, this is a moment to step up, to create more risk transfer capacity, bring better solutions, and push the traditional boundaries of risk taking. Creating innovative capital solutions goes to the heart of Guy Carpenter’s ambition for its clients, and the broader reinsurance industry.”
Expanding on the role of (re)insurance, Hannover Re CEO Clemens Jungsthöfel described how reinsurers can collaborate with clients to strengthen resilience in an ever more complex world. "In an increasingly changing world, reinsurance remains a stabilising factor that transforms challenges into opportunities. At Hannover Re, we believe that reinsurance means more than financial security. It creates space for innovation, spreads risk, and provides stability. Our strengths lie in global diversification, a solid capital base, in-depth expertise, and long-term partnerships."
Highlighting the empowering role of insurance, Amy Barnes, Global Head of Energy & Power, Marsh, said: “In today’s complex world – from supply chain rewiring and geopolitical tensions to climate change and energy transition – the insurance industry is a vital partner. By providing tailored risk solutions and strategic guidance, insurance empowers clients to navigate uncertainty with confidence. More than ever, the industry proves its value by enabling resilience, fostering innovation, and supporting sustainable growth in a complex global landscape.”
Penny Seach, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, Zurich Insurance, emphasised the need for a new approach to the changing risk environment, adding: “Rising geoeconomic fracturing creates a backdrop of more serious and less predictable global risks, and as insurers, we have front row seats to this. But we can’t shy away from risk; it is at the very heart of what we do. Our business is not about avoiding uncertainty, but about understanding, quantifying and helping our customers navigate with confidence. But the structural nature within this new era of risk requires a different approach, making engagement and dialogue more important than ever.”
With innovation central to meeting rapidly evolving risk-transfer demands, Tanguy Touffut, Co-founder & CEO, Descartes Underwriting, said: “It is in times of crisis and instability that the relevance of the reinsurance industry becomes more evident. At the same time, the global ‘polycrisis’ we are experiencing represents a particularly favourable period for companies looking to innovate. The growth of data sources and AI will enable the development of new products for ceding companies. For instance, parametric reinsurance solutions will help reduce protection gaps – due to high retentions or a lack of aggregates – while lowering costs, further solidifying the foundations of our industry.”
About Guy Carpenter
Guy Carpenter, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a leading global risk advisory and reinsurance specialist and broker. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit guycarp.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X.
