Hannover Re has appointed Kun Huang (pictured above) as CEO of its Shanghai branch, the German reinsurer has announced.
Huang brings more than 20 years of experience in the reinsurance and insurance industry to the role. He holds a Master of Science degree in finance from Hunan University.
He joins from Chaucer Syndicates, where he served as chief liaison officer from 2019 to 2025. During that period, he also held the role of managing director at China Re Underwriting Agency Ltd, a position he held for nine years.
Prior to his time at Chaucer, Huang spent over a decade at China Re in various leadership roles. He served as director of the risk management department from 2014 to 2016 and as senior manager of the business management division from 2009 to 2014. Huang began his career at China Re in 2002 as manager of the special risk division.
The Shanghai appointment is part of a broader series of leadership changes at Hannover Re in Asia. The reinsurer recently named Kantaporn Thejatunga as general manager of life and health at its Malaysian branch in Kuala Lumpur. Thejatunga will oversee operations in Malaysia and lead expansion efforts in Southeast Asian markets, including Thailand and Vietnam.
The company has also made leadership changes in the US. Clint Thompson succeeded Pete Schaefer as president and CEO of Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America on Jan. 1, 2026. Schaefer, who served as CEO since 2001, retired at the end of 2025 but remains vice chairman of the board.
Read more: Hannover Re US announces CEO transition
The appointments come as Hannover Re maintains a strong financial position. AM Best recently affirmed the reinsurer's financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) with a stable outlook. In property/casualty reinsurance, continued premium growth and large losses tracking below budget contributed to a combined ratio of 86.0%.
For 2026, Hannover Re anticipates group net income of at least €2.7 billion, assuming large losses do not significantly exceed the budgeted €2.3 billion. The company also announced a revised dividend policy, increasing the payout ratio to approximately 55% of group net income from the 2025 financial year onward.
