100 influential women in re/insurance


“In the 15 years in Brazil, I have seen many changes—most of them good— and it has been a wonderful learning experience.”


Name:


Margo Black


Company: Swiss Re Job:


Head of reinsurance Latin America South and president of Swiss Re Brasil Resseguros


Timeline: 2012—Joined Swiss Re


Margo Black is the head of reinsurance Latin America South and president of Swiss Re Brasil Resseguros. Based in Brazil she oversees Swiss Re’s reinsurance programmes for Brazil, Chile, Colombia and other key markets in South America and is also responsible for the development of the Swiss Re’s life & health business throughout the Latin American region. She is part of the Americas Management Team. She joined Swiss Re in 2012 from Willis, where she was head of Brazil reinsurance. A British citizen from Scotland, but brought up in Mexico and Nicaragua, Black has almost 38 years of industry experience working for reinsurers, but also broking firms as well as insurance companies across geographies and has been involved in many territories including Latin America, Caribbean, Japan, UK, Ireland, Iceland and North America. Black has worked for reinsurers such as Munich Re and SCOR


as well as the broking firms JLT, Sedgwick (now part of the Marsh Group) and Willis. Additionally, her client perspectives were further enhanced by a two-year stint as executive director of Allianz in Brazil. She has been based in Brazil for over 15 years. She joined the industry in August 1977. Her success include consolidating Swiss Re’s operation as a local


reinsurer in Brazil and building up a team in both the Brazilian as well as the Colombian office as well as building a Swiss Re talent pool in Latin America, while growing the business throughout the region.


Why did you choose to work in this industry initially? Having lived most of my early years in Latin America, and speaking various languages, the reinsurance industry offered me the opportunity to work in international business, where I could use my languages, meet people from all over the world and learn


18 | INTELLIGENT INSURER | 2015


a great deal about different countries. Reinsurance gives you the opportunity to learn about many aspects of a country such as economy, politics, and geography.


What has been the highlight of your career so far? Going to Brazil and actually experiencing the opening of a reinsurance market that had been closed for over 70 years and was dominated by a state-owned reinsurer. It has been fascinating (and at times frustrating) to see how the market has evolved and grown as well to see how quickly the Brazilians have grasped the workings of an open market. In the 15 years in Brazil, I have seen many changes—most of them good—and it has been a wonderful learning experience.


What has been the biggest challenge you have


encountered? I think I have had a number of fairly big challenges, especially since coming to Brazil, but definitely the biggest one has been helping put Swiss Re on the map in Brazil. I have been very involved in the setting-up of the local reinsurance company in São Paulo which, despite producing many challenges, has been a very interesting experience.


If you had chosen a different profession/career path, what would it have been? Apart from running a shelter for stray dogs and cats, I really wanted to join the diplomatic corps.


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