Title:  Head of Underwriting, Germany

At Munich Re Specialty – Global Markets (MRS-GM), it is our ambition to become the leading Primary Specialty Insurance provider, underpinned by an effective and adaptable strategy, superior products and industry leaders working in a supportive environment to achieve this.  

At the heart of our success is a strong culture where people are encouraged to be present, bold and curious, allowing them to achieve their individual goals.  

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Head of Underwriting, Germany

Since its formation as a stand-alone division of Munich Re in 2023, Munich Re Specialty (MRS) has the ambition to become a profitable top-10 global primary Specialty insurer. Complementing an already strong presence in the UK and the US, Munich Re Specialty - Global Markets (MRSGM) has been tasked with expanding our primary Specialty business in continental Europe and APAC. We have begun the European expansion journey – starting in Spain, adding to our current operations in Regional UK, Ireland and Germany, while our plans for APAC are moving to implementation in 2026. Regional primary specialty business written in-country in the local insurance market (as opposed to the wholesale market) falls under the definition of “Commercial”.

In order to successfully establish and profitably grow our Commercial business in the German market, we are looking for a Head of Underwriting, Germany to join our team.

We are searching for an exceptional individual with a proven track-record of growth and profitable underwriting across several lines of business (first and third party) in the German mid-market. Ideally, our successful candidate has experience across both Commercial (non-Wholesale) and Wholesale business – having underwritten business regionally in Germany. Knowledge of Lloyd’s of London UW practices is a plus. An entrepreneurial spirit is a must, with a high degree of comfort in building a business presence from scratch and preparedness to roll up the sleeves for tasks both big and small.

Our successful candidate is culturally astute across Europe and particularly in the German context, preferably speaking 1-2 main European languages (e g German, French or Spanish) in addition to English and with strong interpersonal skills – having a black belt in stakeholder management across all levels of an organization.

The Role

• Responsible for managing all technical underwriting activities of MRSGM in Germany, ensures the quality of underwriting, and assures that all underwriting and pricing guidelines, protocols, and controls are consistently applied in all lines of business.
• Work closely with CUO Commercial to establish, implement, and monitor underwriting strategy, policy, guidelines and controls for Germany, consistent with the Commercial and the broader MRSGM underwriting objectives, as set out by the Group CUO, and consistent with client group focus.
• Proactively engage with Group Product Heads to ensure alignment with the group’s product-led strategy and seeking technical consultation where relevant.
• Direct and manage overall technical underwriting activities for MRSGM in Germany while assuring that a high level of technical proficiency is achieved in all areas.
• Responsible for product development together with the CUO Commercial to deliver new product rates, rules and policy forms and the maintenance, consistency of existing product rates, rules and policy forms.
• In close collaboration with the Germany MD and CUO Commercial, manage the portfolio in Germany to achieve the business mix and performance goals as established by the Group CUO.
• Work closely with the CUO Commercial and the UW Leadership Team on reinsurance structuring for the Commercial portfolio to ensure adequate and economical volatility management.
• Maintain and execute MRSGM underwriting authority delegation and referral processes in Germany, as outlined in the Commercial Underwriting Framework and Governance.
• Ensure adherence to Commercial Underwriting Guidelines, Principles and Governance, in addition to those set out by the Group, GSI and MRSGM.
• Monitor insurance market trends and developments in Germany in order to make adjustments as appropriate to underwriting policy and strategy.
• Be a proactive and constructive member of the global Commercial UW Leadership Team and community, working closely together with the Heads of UW in existing and new countries.  
• Work closely together with the Centers of Excellence for Surety and Crisis Management (Kidnap & Ransom and Product Recall) that are both located in Germany.
• Coach and lead a high performance underwriting team; play an integral part in the attraction, recruitment and retention of required talents.

Key Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated ability in an executive leadership position, ideally as Chief Underwriting Officer, Head of Underwriting or Product Head
• In-depth knowledge of exposure and experience rating processes
• In-depth technical knowledge of single risk and delegated underwriting in Specialty lines of business, in particular the mid-market segment
• Excellent people skills, including stakeholder management
• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent communication (written, verbal and presentation), interpersonal and networking skills with all levels of organizations
• Strategic and forward-thinking with a proven track-record of general business management, including planning and forecasting
• Cross-cultural savvy, ideally having lived and / or worked in Europe (outside Germany)
• Language skills, ideally speaks 1-2 main European languages in addition to English
• Extensive primary insurance underwriting experience, ideally across both Commercial (non-Wholesale) and Wholesale (e g Lloyd’s) platforms in Germany
• Extensive people management experience
• Experience in an executive position, ideally as Chief Underwriting Officer / Head of Underwriting
• Experience across multiple lines of business / products
• Experience across mid-market and large account client segments
• University degree and/or relevant professional qualification
• Relevant insurance qualification

Your career with us

At MRSG, you’ll find the flexibility, development and support you need to excel your career combined with a competitive salary and a benefits package that promotes wellbeing and work-life balance, on top of the standard features that include a non-contributory pension, private medical care, life assurance and more!

Diversity & Inclusion

Creating an inclusive environment is a crucial part of the Munich Re culture, and we are committed to our Diversity & Inclusion Policy. We also seek to provide a fair and supportive work environment which provides learning and development opportunities for all.

Working together, we are an employer of choice by building the workforce for today and the future. We make it happen. Together.

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