Coomber is Swiss Re’s choice

Swiss Re took the market rather by surprise when choosing an Englishman, John Coomber, as successor to Walter Kielholz as chief executive. The move follows Mr Kielholz’s appointment as chairman of banking group Credit Suisse; he will become vice chairman of Swiss Re from the beginning of next year. Mr Coomber will take over at the helm of Swiss Re at the same time, 30 years to the day since he joined the reinsurance group.