1958 – 1979

Zurich

United Arab Emirates

The mathematician Max E. Eisenring started in Swiss Re's life department in 1944, making his way to General Manager in 1958. In 1964 Eisenring was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was the first person from the life department who made it to the top of Swiss Re.

Under Eisenring Swiss Re underwent a fundamental cultural change as the company opened up to new management theories from the 1960s. A management style, with the Board of Directors controlling all important matters, was supplemented with a system under which formal processes moved to the fore and important tasks were delegated.

Eisenring initiated a reorganisation which accounted for a more specialized industry expertise. A changing risk landscape required technical, especially engineering, knowledge to assess the risks of large construction projects. Increasing liability problems also called for legal experts and scientists.

Eisenring also created the Swiss Insurance Training Centre (SITC) which provided courses in technical areas of insurance, particularly for insurers from emerging markets.

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