Russell Higginbotham, a former member of Swiss Re's Group Executive Committee, was reportedly the subject of an internal harassment investigation prior to his departure from the company, according to a report from Zurich-based publication Inside Paradeplatz.
Higginbotham had been with Swiss Re for three decades, having joined the company in 1994. He was named CEO of Swiss Re Solutions in 2022.
Despite the announced departure, Inside Paradeplatz highlighted that Higginbotham's profile remained on Swiss Re's website for an extended period. When asked, Swiss Re said, "The leadership change took effect at the beginning of 2025," adding that "the corresponding entry on the website was outdated and has since been corrected."
A source cited by the publication alleged that an internal investigation had been conducted into harassment claims against Higginbotham following a complaint made in early 2025. The source reportedly described the allegations as involving "sexual misconduct."
The former executive was allegedly bid farewell at the end of 2025 as part of a departure agreement, the source said. The publication suggested that the prolonged presence of his profile on the company's website may have been related to negotiations over exit terms.
According to the source, the allegations had reportedly been known to members of the Group Executive Committee for several months.
The timeline of events according to the giant reinsurer paints a different picture. Swiss Re announced the leadership transition in late 2024 - earlier than when the reported allegations and complaints were made. The announcement revealed that Higginbotham would be stepping down from his role leading the Reinsurance Solutions division. Jonathan Rake, who joined the reinsurer in 2016, assumed leadership of the unit starting January 1, 2025.
At the time, Swiss Re characterized the leadership change as coinciding with the planned retirement of Higginbotham. The company noted he had held multiple senior roles in both global and regional capacities during his tenure.
Rake, who had been a member of the Global Executive Committee at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions and served as a global ambassador for the company's sustainability initiative, was announced as his successor.
Insurance Business reached out to Swiss Re for comment and got the same response as the Zurich publication: "Swiss Re does not comment on individual cases or internal matters."
