Former Swiss Re CEO Stefan Lippe dies following Covid-19 complications

Lippe, pictured, was appointed as group CEO of Swiss Re in the aftermath of the global financial criris, having previously been the firm’s chief operating officer and deputy CEO from 2008.

Before that, he had led Swiss Re’s property and casualty business since 2001, having initially joined the company in 1986 through its subsidiary Bavarian Re.

In a statement, Swiss Re expresses its condolences to Lippe’s family and paid tribute to his achievements as CEO.

CEO Christian Mumenthaler, Swiss Re group CEO, said: “He truly had a sixth sense for risk and was no doubt the best underwriter I ever met!”

Walter Kielholz, Swiss Re chairman, said: “Swiss Re is greatly indebted to Stefan Lippe for almost three decades of continued commitment and dedicated service to the company.”

Lippe retired from Swiss Re in 2012, and subsequently joined the board of Axa, where he had been a director since 2012 and chairman of the audit committee since 2013.

In a statement, Axa said: “Stefan Lippe was a courteous and warm man. His fellow board members and the Axa employees who had the privilege of knowing him will always remember his smile and rigor as a mathematician.

“On behalf of the board of directors and the management committee of Axa, Denis Duverne and Thomas Buberl express their gratitude and their great appreciation for his many instrumental and decisive contributions to the group during his eight years on the Board. They extend their deepest condolences to his family.”