London, UK, 30 January 2025: The Insurance Development Forum (IDF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ivo Menzinger, Managing Director of Public Sector Business at Swiss Re, as Chair of its Operating Committee (OpCo). Ivo succeeds Rowan Douglas CBE, CEO of Climate Risk & Resilience at Howden, who led the creation of the IDF between 2012-2015, and served as OpCo Chair since the IDF’s launch at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015. For over a decade Rowan has played a pivotal role in establishing the IDF as a respected international institution delivering resilience to climate and disaster risks.
Ivo Menzinger brings a wealth of leadership experience in the public-private partnership (PPP) space, particularly in disaster risk management and insurance, to the role of Chair. His previous tenure as Deputy Chair of the IDF OpCo, Founder and Co-Chair of the IDF Sovereign and Humanitarian Working Group for nearly a decade has provided him with deep insight into the IDF’s core mission. As the IDF enters its 10th year, Ivo’s leadership will focus on catalysing the momentum needed to scale climate and disaster resilience solutions, addressing the urgent need for collaboration across sectors to provoke meaningful change for vulnerable communities and with a focus on accelerating implementation efforts.
Michel Liès, Chair of the IDF Steering Committee, said:
“Rowan has been instrumental in transforming the IDF from a bold vision into a global force for resilience. His strategic leadership has enabled the IDF to operationalise initiatives that deliver real impact. We thank him for his enormous contributions over the last decade and count on his engagement with the IDF in future. As we look ahead and embark on the IDF’s next phase, Ivo’s expertise will be key to catalysing additional momentum, uniting stakeholders, and scaling solutions to match the urgency of the moment.”
Ivo Menzinger, Chair of the IDF Operating Committee, said:
“It is a privilege to step into this role at such a pivotal time for the IDF and the communities it serves. As we navigate an era of escalating climate and disaster risks, our focus must be on implementation underpinned by ambition. By strengthening partnerships and fostering innovation, we can scale practical solutions that protect lives and livelihoods. The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. I look forward to driving momentum that turns collaboration into measurable impact, ensuring the IDF continues to provoke meaningful change in building a more resilient future.”
Rowan Douglas CBE, CEO of Climate Risk & Resilience at Howden, said:
“It has been a great pleasure to help turn the IDF vision into a thriving reality over the last decade and see the influence and impact of this unique public-private partnership. We have achieved countless breakthroughs – technical, organisational and financial – that many people thought to be impossible. Most importantly we have transformed the wider recognition of insurance as an essential part of resilient development. I thank everyone in the IDF community – past and present – from across industry, Governments, international institutions, NGOs and my family who have supported me in leading the IDF OpCo on this extraordinary journey together. As we enter our second decade the IDF’s mission has never been more important. So, I’m delighted to be handing over to Ivo with his unique skills and experience, someone who I’ve enjoyed working with in the IDF since 2014. I wish him every success in taking the IDF to the next level and look forward to supporting him and the IDF in its exciting future.”
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Notes for Editors
About the Insurance Development Forum
The Insurance Development Forum (IDF) is an industry-led Public-Private Partnership bringing together insurance industry leaders, government officials and international organisations.
First announced at the UN Conference of the Parties (COP21) Paris Climate Summit in 2015, and officially launched by leaders of the United Nations, World Bank Group and insurance industry in 2016, the IDF looks to leverage the technologies, expertise and financial mechanisms native to the insurance industry to enable the world’s most disaster vulnerable governments, economies and populations to enhance risk understanding and build resilience.
