Chief Insurance Officer

This role requires the candidate to work in Eastern Europe under a hybrid working arrangement.

Client Overview

Our client is an international insurance and assistance services organization providing a broad range of insurance products, underwriting solutions, and risk management services across multiple markets. Operating through an extensive regional network, the company delivers innovative insurance solutions for both local and international clients while maintaining strong governance, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.

With a strong focus on sustainable growth and profitability, the organization continuously enhances its underwriting capabilities, pricing methodologies, product development initiatives, and digital transformation programs. The company works closely with global stakeholders to deliver competitive insurance solutions that align with evolving market demands and regulatory requirements across the Eastern European region.

Job Role

The Chief Insurance Officer (CINSO) is a senior executive leadership role responsible for leading the organization's insurance strategy, underwriting governance, product development, portfolio management, and regional insurance operations across Eastern Europe.

This position plays a critical role in strengthening insurance governance, driving profitable growth, and building scalable insurance solutions through technical excellence, standardized underwriting practices, and effective portfolio management. Working within an international group structure, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with regional leadership and headquarters to optimize underwriting performance, support strategic transformation initiatives, develop new insurance products, and strengthen key business partnerships while ensuring full regulatory compliance and long-term profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Strengthen and maintain consistent insurance governance across the Eastern European region in alignment with Group standards and underwriting policies.
• Lead regional underwriting strategy, pricing governance, portfolio management, and insurance product development to support sustainable business growth.
• Monitor portfolio profitability and ensure appropriate underwriting actions are implemented to optimize financial performance.
• Support the integration of regional business operations into the Group Insurance & Product organization.
• Lead the development and commercialization of strategic insurance products, including the regional Travel Bond product roadmap.
• Drive continuous improvement of underwriting tools, pricing models, reporting systems, and digital underwriting capabilities.
• Review complex pricing and underwriting decisions while supporting escalation processes with Group underwriting committees.
• Develop and implement underwriting standards, governance frameworks, and operational best practices across regional markets.
• Build strong collaboration between Insurance, Product, Operations, Sales, Finance, IT, and executive leadership teams.
• Act as the primary liaison between regional business units and Group headquarters, ensuring effective two-way communication and strategic alignment.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing insurance and product teams while supporting recruitment and succession planning initiatives.
• Manage strategic partnerships with key insurance carriers, business partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Lead strategic transformation, integration, and business improvement initiatives as required by executive leadership.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Mathematics, Insurance, Actuarial Science, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12–15 years of experience within the insurance industry.
• Minimum 5–7 years of leadership experience at Director, Head, Executive, or C-level positions.
• Proven expertise in underwriting, pricing, portfolio management, insurance governance, and risk management.
• Strong experience managing insurance portfolios with direct P&L ownership and profitability responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience developing, launching, and scaling insurance products. Experience with travel insurance, affinity insurance, or embedded insurance is highly advantageous.
• Experience implementing underwriting processes, governance frameworks, operational standards, and digital underwriting tools.
• Previous experience working within multinational, regional, or matrix organizations across Europe is highly preferred.
• Experience leading transformation programs, organizational integration projects, or strategic business change initiatives is considered an advantage.
• Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution capabilities and the ability to balance commercial growth with effective risk management.
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proven ability to influence executive leadership, regional management teams, and global stakeholders.
• Strong change management capabilities with a results-oriented leadership approach.
• Professional working proficiency in English (minimum C1 level) is required.

Job Code: #802