Swiss Re has appointed Suzanne Revell (pictured above) as head of marine and energy for its property and casualty reinsurance unit, succeeding Adam Watkins, effective June 1, 2026.
Based in London, Revell will oversee Swiss Re’s global marine and energy portfolio in the reinsurance sector as it navigates ongoing volatility.
Revell joined Swiss Re in July 2017 and currently serves as head of marine and energy for the UK while leading the political violence and terror portfolio. She has managed a significant London market composite excess of loss book and brings prior experience as an underwriter at a Lloyd’s syndicate and as a placement broker.
In her new global role, she will handle strategic direction, underwriting priorities, market representation and leadership of the underwriting team across regions. Adam Watkins will remain in an advisory role.
The appointment comes as the marine and energy reinsurance sector faces a period of heightened unpredictability. In comments made last year, outgoing head Adam Watkins described the outlook as one where “the only certainty is uncertainty,” citing geopolitical tensions, tech risks and shifting trade policies that continue to reshape the risk landscape for governments and businesses.
This leadership change at Swiss Re also arrives against a backdrop of structural challenges in marine reinsurance, including larger individual risk exposures from bigger vessels and offshore energy projects, as highlighted in earlier industry analysis.
Recent developments in the Middle East have added pressure. Earlier this year, escalating tensions triggered repricing and tighter capacity in war-risk coverage for ships operating in and around the Gulf.
Some insurers issued cancellation notices under standard war clauses and raised additional premiums for high-risk transits. These adjustments reflect ongoing geopolitical volatility rather than entirely new events.
Swiss Re operates one of the largest reinsurance businesses worldwide. The move consolidates leadership in a sector that covers risks from shipping, offshore energy and related areas. No details on portfolio size or performance targets were released.
