Life-Re Europe 2026
Life-Re Europe convened for its inaugural event on 14 April at Frankfurt’s Westin Hotel. The conference was attended by 200 people from around the continent with 90+ companies present. Themes focused on the structural shift in life insurance markets, including the increased use of private assets, new sources of capital and asset intensive reinsurance (AIR).
Panelists discussed issues related to legacy life books, IT and operational challenges and consolidation prospects in countries like Germany and beyond.
The keynote speech by IVASS and regulatory panel featuring EIOPA and the IAIS gave specific insight into supervisors work on this changing market and how they are attempting to harmonise the many moving parts in the increasingly complex life business environment.
Meanwhile, presentations by RGA and Allianz which dived deep into the mechanics of an AIR deal, and panels examining the influence of private equity in the life business and longevity risk transfer opportunities in countries like the Netherlands, rounded off what was a comprehensive examination of the many strands of the life debate.
While recognition, and appreciation, of diversity remains, there seems to be growing momentum building towards some kind of harmonization to improve efficiency and help to improve customer outcomes in what is a fragmented industry with, sometimes, too much choice.
Solutions are not easy. But the conversation continues.
Agenda
8:00am
Registration and refreshments
8:50am
Welcome remarks
Sarfraz Thind, Director, Life-Re
9:00am
Keynote Speaker
Driving European harmonisation
Rita Laura D’Ecclesia, Member of the Board of Directors, IVASS
9:20am
Panel Discussion
Spotlight on Europe’s life insurance market
- European life insurance – challenge and opportunity
- Product innovation and legacy frameworks
- Connecting Europe’s life insurance markets
Moderator: Christian Thimann, Professor of Finance, Goethe University Frankfurt, ex-CEO Athora Germany
Rita Laura D’Ecclesia, Member of the Board of Directors, IVASS
Frieder Knüpling, Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group
Simon Woods, CEO Savings & Retirement, Zurich Insurance Group
10:10am
Panel Discussion
Consolidation: creating opportunity and certainty
- Life consolidation – what is it and who benefits?
- Why is the European market interesting for run off opportunities?
- Regulatory expectations and concerns
Moderator: Heiko Faust, Partner, Head Insurance Germany, Implement Consulting Group
Dr Tilo Dresig, CEO, Viridium Group
Bernd Neumann, CFO, Frankfurter Leben Group
Dr Sven Wagner, Principal & Consulting Actuary, Milliman
11:00am
Coffee and Networking Break
11:30am
Stream 1: Longevity Stream
Panel Discussion
Longevity risk transfer as a boost for pension markets
- The Dutch experience: Longevity risk transfer to enhance retirement outcomes for DB pension plans
- Meeting the regulatory challenges in a longevity deal
- Accessing longevity risk transfer in the wider European market
Moderator: Sarfraz Thind, Director, Life-Re
Emily Eskandari, Assistant Vice President, Client Solutions, Continental Europe, Pacific Life Re
Jouke Hottinga, Managing Director, Group Strategy & Balance Sheet Management, a.s.r. NL
Marc Meertens, Head of Balance Sheet Management, Business Support and Analysis, NN Life & Pensions
Rohit Mathur, Head of International Reinsurance Business, Prudential Financial
Stream 2: Assets Stream
Panel Discussion
The asset challenge: unlocking Europe’s illiquidity premium
- PPP: How to attract private capital for Europe’s long-term investment needs
- Infrastructure as an asset class
- Insurer’s addressing the domestic investment challenge
- Europe’s new securitisation and long-term equity reform implications
Moderator: Carlos Montalvo Rebuelta, Partner; Global Insurance Regulatory Leader, PwC
James Budenberg, Director, Strategic Insurance Group, Aberdeen Investments
Luca Cetrano, Head of Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation, Assicurazioni Generali
Henrik Matsen, Partner, Henry Costa Partners
12:20am
Stream 1: Longevity Stream
Panel Discussion
Longevity modelling in shifting European markets
- Actuarial challenges in longevity modelling
- The ‘demographic winter’ – what does it mean for Europe?
- GLP-1 Drugs: A gamechanger for Mortality and morbidity?
Moderator: Lukas Ziewer, Founder, Fuseki Risk Insights
Steven Baxter, Chief Data Scientist, Club Vita
Daniel Meier, Head Life & Health Risk Modelling, Group Risk Management, Swiss Re
Roshan Tajapra, Head of Longevity Research, SCOR
Stream 2: Assets Stream
Panel Discussion
New capital – where is it coming from?
- Assessing the demands for capital in Europe’s life insurance markets
- PE-insurers: the positives and and the risks
- Opportunities for mass lapse and ILS solutions
Moderator: Hugo Laing, Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
Björn Schmolck, Head of Structured Reinsurance, EMEA, Canada Life Reinsurance
Luca Cetrano, Managing Partner, Acathia Capital
Henrik Matsen, Head of Strategic Risk and Capital Life Solutions, EMEA, Guy Carpenter
1:10pm
Lunch
2:10pm
Fireside Chat
Europe’s regulatory landscape
- Addressing protection gaps and ageing populations
- The increased role of non-bank financial institutions in Europe’s life landscape
- Regulators on asset-intensive reinsurance and back-book consolidation
Moderator: Alberto Corinti, Academic at Bocconi University and ex-Member of the Board of Directors, IVASS
Dieter Hendrickx, Head of Insurance Supervision, NBB and Chair of the IAIS Monitoring and Risk Assessment Committee
Dimitris Zafeiris, Head of Risks and Financial Stability Department, EIOPA
3:00pm
Presentation
A reinsurer-insurer dealmaking journey
- Discussing the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a coinsurance transaction
- The cedents view on challenges and opportunities
- Giving visibility on the issues in making an asset intensive deal in Europe
Laura Hardy, Senior Vice President, Head of Transactions for Continental Europe, RGA
Klaus Wolf, Global Head of L&H Reinsurance Solutions, Allianz SE
3:30pm
Coffee and Networking Break
4:00pm
Panel Discussion
New business and product innovation through reinsurance
- Asset intensive vs full risk coinsurance – What’s in a label?
- Learning from foreign jurisdictions
- The argument for sidecars in Europe
Moderator: Olav Jones, Partner, Polaris Advisory
David Lipovics, Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Continental Europe, RGA
Radhika Ravi, Head of International Solutions, L&G
Philip Vermeulen, Europe West Financial Services Insurance Leader, EY
4:50pm
Panel Discussion
Transforming legacy life systems
- Redefining finance functions for long-term growth
- New systems, new opportunities
- How to use financial engineering as a fillip for the industry
Moderator: Florian Förster, Vice President, Head of Financial Services Germany, Capgemini Invent
Heiko Faust, Partner, Head Insurance Germany, Implement Consulting Group
Bettina Hoch, CFO, Athora Group Germany
Alexander Martin-Boes, Managing Director, Leading Portfolio Partners
5:40pm
Close
5:40–6:30pm
Drinks Reception
Club Vita
Aberdeen Investments
Assicurazioni Generali
IVASS
Viridium Group
IVASS
Pacific Life Re
Implement Consulting Group
Viridium Group
IVASS
NBB and Chair of the IAIS Monitoring and Risk Assessment Committee
Athora Group Germany
a.s.r. NL
Polaris Advisory
BCG
Debevoise & Plimpton
RGA
Leading Portfolio Partners
Prudential Financial
Henry Costa Partners
NN Life & Pensions
Swiss Re
PwC
Frankfurter Leben-Gruppe
L&G
Canada Life Reinsurance
SCOR
ex-CEO Athora German
Life-Re
Guy Carpenter
EY
Milliman
Zurich Insurance Group
Allianz SE
EIOPA
Fuseki Risk Insights
Platinum Sponsors
Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE: RGA) is a global industry leader specializing in life and health reinsurance and financial solutions that help clients effectively manage risk and optimize capital. Founded in 1973, RGA is today one of the world’s largest and most respected reinsurers and remains guided by a powerful purpose: to make financial protection accessible to all. As a global capabilities and solutions leader, RGA empowers partners through bold innovation, relentless execution, and dedicated client focus – all directed toward creating sustainable long-term value. RGA has approximately $4.3 trillion of life reinsurance in force and assets of $156.6 billion as of December 31, 2025.
Arrange to meet one of our experts at RGA’s sponsor room at Life-Re Europe 2026 by clicking here
For additional information, please visit rgare.com
Gold Sponsors
Aberdeen Investments is a leading global insurance asset manager with a heritage spanning more than a century. Our core strength lies in the breadth, depth and scale of our dedicated insurance investment and client‑servicing capabilities.
We manage £207 billion on behalf of around 150 insurance clients worldwide, across public credit, private credit, equities, multi‑asset and alternatives – making us a major global provider of insurance asset management services.
For additional information please visit www.aberdeeninvestments.com
Canada Life Reinsurance offers a range of products in Asia, Europe and North America to enable our clients to reduce their exposure to longevity risk, enabling optimum risk management and continued growth opportunities. We work closely with leading insurers, pension plans and their advisors to understand each client’s needs, meet pricing project timescales and implement new treaties efficiently.
We benefit from the financial strength and robust risk management culture associated with Great-West Lifeco Inc, which includes top-ranking credit ratings from the major rating agencies (AA S&P, AA3 Moodys).
As an experienced counterparty in longevity reinsurance, asset reinsurance and bespoke capital‑relief solutions, we bring deep expertise across global markets. We executed our first large‑scale UK longevity transaction in 2008 and remain active in that market.
We are also very active in supporting our clients across continental Europe and Asia in providing longevity, asset reinsurance and financial solutions, including mass lapse protection.
Club Vita is an independent longevity data analytics company, which facilitates the accumulation and pooling of data underlying the longevity patterns of retirees with annuity benefits. With operations in the UK, US, and Canada, it supports financial institutions from around the world that manage longevity risk, including insurers, reinsurers and asset managers, helping them offer attractive longevity risk protection products in a tech-enabled, efficient manner.
Club Vita also works with workplace defined benefit (DB) pension funds and their advisors to help them understand their emerging longevity patterns, to drive more informed strategic decisions and to embed best-practice risk-management into their governance frameworks.
Club Vita’s current international community consists of over 500 pension funds, 7 pension advisory firms and 40 (re)insurers. Across the UK, US and Canada, Club Vita maintains three pooled data sets tracking the survival patterns of a combined population of over five million people with benefits in workplace pension plans.
For further information, please visit www.clubvita.net
Milliman leverages deep expertise, actuarial rigor, and advanced technology to develop solutions for a world at risk. From optimizing life risk transfer strategies and legacy portfolio transformations to adapting to new regulatory outlooks, our advanced technology and consulting solutions empower clients to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Founded in 1947, Milliman is one of the largest actuarial consulting firms worldwide. Operating as an independent firm with over 5,000 professionals across more than 68 global locations, we generate over $2 billion in annual revenue and are proud that 44 of the world’s top 50 insurers trust our solutions.
Connect with our international team of experts at Life-Re Europe 2026 to discuss how we can support your strategic objectives. For more information, please visit www.milliman.com
At Pacific Life Re, we bring deep expertise across reinsurance, from protection and longevity to innovative asset-intensive and capital solutions. Backed by a strong and diversified balance sheet, we combine technical excellence and fresh thinking to deliver distinctive outcomes for our clients.
With a growing international footprint across Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia, we are dedicated to supporting our partners wherever they operate. As part of Pacific Life – a AA- rated mutual company with nearly 160 years of proven reliability and financial strength – we have the freedom to focus on long-term growth and sustainable relationships, providing confidence for generations to come.
For further information please visit www.pacificlifere.com
PFI (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.6 trillion in assets under management as of 30 September 2025, has operations on four continents. PFI’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for more than 150 years.
PFI is an award-winning provider of pension risk transfer solutions, specialising in buyins and buyouts in the United States and longevity reinsurance transactions globally.
Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom.
For additional information please visit www.prudential.com
As a leading global company with a Tier 1 franchise, SCOR operates seamlessly across insurance, reinsurance and capital markets. With 35+ offices worldwide, our global presence enables us to stay close to our clients in more than 150 countries.
We are recognized worldwide for our technical expertise and local knowledge, giving us access to all insurance business lines across every geography. We pride ourselves on building strong, trust-based partnerships with our clients, meeting their evolving needs by delivering tailor-made, innovative solutions for every scenario.
SCOR’s operations are structured around three primary business activities: SCOR Property & Casualty (P&C), SCOR Life & Health (L&H), and SCOR Investments.
SCOR Life & Health safeguards human, social and relationship capital through a variety of solutions for critical illnesses, long-term care, and longevity risks. Our financial solutions provide innovative solutions through strategic partnerships.
For additional information please visit www.scor.com
Silver Sponsors
msg is an independent, international group of companies with more than 10,000 employees worldwide. It is represented in 34 countries and supports its customers in their digital transformation. Founded in 1980, msg group services range from business and IT consulting to the development of standard software and individual solutions for a wide range of industries.
Within the msg group, msg life and msg nexinsure are the competence centers for standard software in the insurance industry. They provide a complete and leading range of solutions built around the all-in-one platform msg.Insurance Suite SaaS for insurers in all segments – everything under one roof and featuring state-of-the-art technology. In addition to standard software, both provide full integration, migration and deployment services for their core system msg.Insurance Suite SaaS, including perpetual upgradeable maintenance, application management and operation/hosting. All solutions are designed with maximum cloud and SaaS security standards.
msg life and msg nexinsure are also leading providers of AI solutions for the insurance industry, for instance an AI-supported knowledge base and AI-based automated migration.
With more than 150 successfully completed large-scale projects and almost 45 years of expertise, msg life and msg nexinsure have become well-known trusted partners for the international insurance industry.
For additional information please visit www.msg.group
