Zurich

Zurich Reinsurance Company Ltd, known as Zurich Reinsurance, offers tailored risk cover for global affiliates. In 2024, it handled CHF3.5 billion in reinsurance premiums across Asia, UK, and US portfolios.

History of Zurich Reinsurance

Zurich Reinsurance Company Ltd was licensed in 2016 as a separate legal entity in Switzerland. Before that, Zurich Reinsurance operated within the broader global structure of Zurich Insurance Group.

Its work supported Zurich’s branches in key markets like the UK and Asia. Other key moments in its broader history include:

• 1872: Zurich founded in Switzerland as a marine insurer with global reinsurance goals
• 1892: signed broker deal with Belgian firm, boosting global insurance distribution
• 1912: received business licenses to begin operations in the US market
• 1980: Zurich Reinsurance Company of New York is founded with Swiss Re
• 2002: Zurich Reinsurance placed into run-off during company refocus and restructuring
• 2022: celebrated 150 years with events and free public transit in Zurich

Today, Zurich Reinsurance continues to focus on group-affiliated reinsurance. Its structure supports steady growth and regional diversification through quota share and related treaties.

Reinsurance products and services

Zurich Reinsurance focuses on group-affiliated reinsurance and retains selected risks from several global regions:

• quota share reinsurance: shares premiums and losses from Japan motor and personal accident branches
• whole account quota share (WAQS): retains a slice of full portfolios from UK and Hong Kong
• all lines quota share (ALQS): has been supporting US group business across multiple lines since 2023
• non-IPZ reinsurance: partially retained business, mainly from direct branch quota shares
• IPZ retrocession: reinsurance business passed through Zurich then retroceded back to Zurich Insurance Company
• run-off portfolio management: legacy non-life insurance book maintained but closed to new business

Zurich Reinsurance offers a stable mix of low-volatility risks within the group structure. Its retained treaties help support steady income across Asia, UK, and US markets.

Culture and core values

Zurich Reinsurance builds its culture around real actions, not just corporate messages. It values optimism, caring, and reliability in everything.

Purpose and employee benefits

Its purpose connects legacy with real impact and reflects how it serves society, customers, and employees. Zurich Reinsurance provides its staff with:

• paid leave and time off: includes gender-neutral leave, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and flexible summer hours
• health and wellness support: includes therapy sessions, mental care, wellness app, and tobacco quit support
• education and upskilling: supports job-related degrees and licenses with tuition help and manager approval
• peer recognition rewards: enables gift cards or events through points awarded on a peer-driven platform
• income and retirement plans: features competitive pay, incentive bonuses, and strong 401(k) contributions
• life and disability coverage: provides core life insurance, accident and critical illness protection, and travel help
• vision and family perks: covers eye exams, glasses aid, childcare discounts, and backup childcare support
• flexible work options: FlexWork model balances team goals with individual working styles and business needs

These benefits reflect Zurich Reinsurance’s efforts to offer a comprehensive support system for employees. The company’s approach emphasizes flexibility, well-being, and professional development.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB)

Zurich Reinsurance supports a culture where curiosity, teamwork, and growth create shared success. Its aim is to lead as a values-based, purpose-driven organization known for impact and inclusion:

• diversity: 51 percent of employees are women, with 130 nationalities across the global workforce
• equity: uses Equal Pay for Equivalent Work audits to reduce internal gender pay gaps
• inclusivity: strives for belonging by valuing all voices and creating work-life balance
• belonging: supports Employee Resource Groups to foster inclusion across business teams

Zurich Reinsurance sees DEIB as a business strength that fuels people-first service and long-term success. It works with partners and employees to build better experiences, equity, and a stronger future together.

Sustainability at Zurich

Zurich Reinsurance uses its business model to create shared value and long-term impact. Its purpose to “create a brighter future together” guides work across risk, investment, and community. It partners globally to support change where society, nature, and business can thrive.

The future at Zurich Reinsurance

The firm transferred discontinued French motor and A&E liability portfolios to RiverStone International through an LPT deal. RiverStone International Ireland now fully manages the portfolios as part of the insurance business transfer. This move supports Zurich’s long-term focus on capital efficiency and core treaty growth.

Zurich backs Blue Marble’s global facility expanding parametric reinsurance for underserved climate-exposed regions. The AA-rated group supports risk capacity for drought, storms, and extreme temperature coverage. This strengthens Zurich Reinsurance’s alignment with scalable, impact-driven solutions in emerging climate markets.