Head L&H Transactions Origination Japan

Are you a senior insurance or reinsurance professional with deep knowledge of the Japanese life insurance market and a track record of originating and executing complex reinsurance transactions? Do you combine strong client relationships with commercial judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to mobilize teams around complex opportunities? If so, this is an opportunity to lead the growth of Swiss Re’s Life & Health Transactions business in Japan and help shape the future of reinsurance and capital solutions in one of the world’s largest life insurance markets.

About the Role

The Head of Transactions Origination will lead the origination and growth of Swiss Re’s Life & Health Transactions business in Japan, with responsibility for developing the transaction pipeline and advancing strategic reinsurance and capital management opportunities with Japanese life insurers.

This is a senior, highly client-facing leadership role requiring strong relationships with insurance executives and the ability to translate clients’ strategic, capital and financial priorities into actionable opportunities. The role will work closely with Client Management, Pricing, Structured Solutions and Financial Markets to bring Swiss Re’s broader capabilities to the Japanese market and deliver on our Transactions ambitions in Japan.

The role will also lead and develop the local Transactions origination capability, setting priorities, developing talent and strengthening the link between the Japan business and Swiss Re’s global Transactions expertise.

Key Responsibilities

The primary responsibility is to lead the origination and development of L&H Transactions in Japan, including:

- Own and drive the Japan L&H Transactions origination strategy and pipeline, identifying priority clients and opportunities and focusing resources on areas with the greatest strategic and economic potential.

- Bring a holistic asset and liability perspective to transaction origination, leveraging financial markets and investment expertise to develop tailored reinsurance and capital management solutions for clients.

- Build trusted relationships and maintain strategic dialogue with senior client decision-makers, including CFOs, Chief Actuaries and other executives, to understand their capital, balance-sheet and financial priorities and proactively identify opportunities for Swiss Re.

- Lead the origination and advancement of strategic transactions across biometric risk, asset-intensive reinsurance, financing and other structured reinsurance solutions, including commercial negotiations that balance client and Swiss Re's strategic objectives.

- Partner with Japan Client Management, Pricing and other local functions, as well as regional and global specialists, mobilizing and aligning multidisciplinary teams to advance transactions from origination through execution.

- Maintain a strong understanding of the Japanese regulatory, capital and accounting environment, including J-ICS and JGAAP, as well as macroeconomic and financial-market developments, and translate these into strategic client dialogue and new transaction opportunities.

- Maintain a strong understanding of the competitive landscape and emerging transaction structures, helping shape Swiss Re’s market positioning and priorities in Japan.

- Represent Swiss Re externally with senior industry stakeholders and strengthen our position as a thought leader and strategic partner in capital and balance-sheet management.

- Lead and develop the Japan Financial Solutions team, providing direction, coaching and support while building a strong culture of collaboration, commercial ownership and execution excellence.

- Strengthen Financial Solutions capability across Japan by sharing expertise and partnering with Client Managers and other functions to broaden transaction origination across the market.

About the Team

The role will be a senior member of the Japan L&H team, working closely with the Head of L&H Japan, Client Management, Pricing and other local functions.

The Head of Transactions Origination will lead the local Financial Solutions team and serve as a key bridge between the Japan Transactions business and Swiss Re’s regional and global Transactions capabilities, particularly L&H Structured Solutions and Financial Markets. The role will be responsible for bringing together the right expertise across Swiss Re to address clients’ most important capital and balance-sheet challenges.

About You

- 20+ years of relevant Life & Health insurance, reinsurance, actuarial, investment banking or financial services experience, with deep knowledge of the Japanese life insurance market and an established network of senior industry relationships.

- Strong understanding of both asset and liability sides of life insurance balance sheets, including investment strategies, financial markets, ALM and their implications for reinsurance and capital management solutions.

- Deep understanding of life insurer financials, balance-sheet dynamics and structured reinsurance solutions, including Japanese accounting and solvency standards such as JGAAP and J-ICS.

- Executive presence and credibility to engage with C-suite and senior client stakeholders, build trusted long-term relationships and influence strategic discussions.

- Strong track record of originating and executing complex transactions, with the commercial judgment and negotiation skills to balance client objectives with economic and strategic considerations.

- Proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments within a global organization, influence senior stakeholders and mobilize multidisciplinary teams, while effectively prioritizing opportunities and resources.

- Strong leadership, ownership and accountability, with a commitment to developing people, sharing expertise and building broader organizational capability.

- Relevant actuarial, finance, accounting or capital markets background; an Actuarial, CFA, Accounting or equivalent professional qualification is preferred.

- Strong Japanese and English communication skills, given the combination of senior Japanese client engagement and global internal collaboration.

Salary Information

The base salary range for this position will be shared with you during the interview process.

In addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance-based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. Furthermore, you will enjoy a variety of global and location-specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract.

Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week.

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. We cover both Property & Casualty and Life & Health. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.

We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.

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