Dr. Corneille KAREKEZI is the Group MD / CEO of the African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re), the largest pan-African reinsurance company in the African and the Middle East markets, with US$ 1.2 billion of premium income and US$ 2.3 billion of total assets in 2024, as well as the highest financial strength international ratings at A / Stable by AM Best (since 2016) and A- / Positive by Standard & Poor’s (since 2009).

Africa Re accepts and writes exclusively reinsurance treaty and facultative business from Africa, Middle East, India, China, Brazil and other South East Asia markets through its 10 offices across major cities of African continent and an office in the DIFC (Dubai).

Before joining the reinsurance industry in 2009, Dr. KAREKEZI had a long career in the insurance industry, which started in 1991, and during which he served practically in all the accounting, reinsurance, technical and marketing departments with the leading insurance company in Burundi and Rwanda until he reached in 2008 the position of CEO in SONARWA s.a. (Rwanda).

He has contributed significantly to the development of the African (re)insurance industry and is a sought-after speaker on matters of insurance, risk management and leadership around the world. In addition, he has served as Chairman and member of governing bodies of various financial institutions and foundations in Africa.

He is currently the Chairman of Africa Re (South Africa) Limited, Chairman of Africa Retakaful Company (Egypt), Member of the Executive Council of the International Insurance Society (IIS), and a Member of the Executive Committee of the African Insurance Organization (AIO).

Dr. KAREKEZI holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Management (Burundi), Postgraduate Diplomas in Business Administration (UK), Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (UK) and a Doctorate in Business Administration (France & Israel).

He speaks fluently English, French, Swahili and other African languages.