NU Online News Service, Oct. 3, 11:06 a.m. EDT

John R. Coomber, a Swiss Re director who has consistently identified climate change as a significant risk, will become the new chairman of ClimateWise, the global insurance industry's leadership group formed to reduce the risks of climate change.

Coomber succeeds Andrew Torrance, chief executive officer of Allianz Insurance, who has completed his three-year term as chairman, according to ClimateWise.

As group chief executive officer of Swiss Re from 2003 to 2005, Coomber consistently identified climate change as one of the most significant strategic issues facing the insurance industry globally, ClimiteWise says, adding that today, Swiss Re is a leading force in addressing, researching, and developing solutions to mitigate and adapt to the risks of climate change.

Commenting on his new role, Coomber says, “Recent events have shown how vulnerable the world's inter-dependent economies are to risks that at first appear to only affect one part of the system. Climate change, too, cuts across all walks of life, affecting people and property, global food production and the smooth-running of supply chains.”

He notes that reducing these risks to an acceptable level is “in all of our interests and we cannot do that without strong partnerships between businesses, governments and wider society.”

Torrance says, “I have very much enjoyed chairing ClimateWise over the past three years, during which insurance leaders from four different continents have joined our ranks to build a range of action-orientated partnerships to fight climate risk. I have no doubt that this vital initiative will go from strength to strength under John's leadership.”

ClimateWise is facilitated by the University of Cambridge Program for Sustainability Leadership (CPSL).

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Coomber New ClimateWise Chairman

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