African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) is the leading pan-African reinsurance company and the largest reinsurer in Africa in terms of net reinsurance written premiums.
Africa Re was set up by 36 African states in 1976, following a recommendation by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with the mission of developing the insurance and reinsurance industry in Africa through increased underwriting and retention capacities, and support to African economic development.
Ranked 38th in the 2018 Standard & Poor’s Global Reinsurance Groups and 41st of the Top 50 Global Reinsurance Groups by AM Best in 2018, Africa Re has a broad-based shareholding: 41 African member States (33.59%); the African Development Bank (8.42%); 111 African insurance and reinsurance companies (33.84%); and 3 non regional shareholders (23.15%), including leading global insurers and reinsurers from France (AXA), Canada (FAIRFAX) and Germany (ALLIANZ SE).
With headquarters in Lagos (Nigeria), Africa Re operates through six (6) Regional Offices across Africa: Casablanca (Morocco), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Nairobi (Kenya), Lagos (Nigeria), Cairo (Egypt) and Ebene (Mauritius), one (1) Local Office in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and one (1) Underwriting Representative in Kampala (Uganda). It also has two (2) Subsidiary Companies (Africa Re South Africa Limited and Africa Retakaful) in Johannesburg (South Africa) and Cairo (Egypt) respectively.
In 2017, Africa Re wrote US$746.8 million of premium income and realized a net profit of US$87.9 million. Its shareholders’ funds reached US$902 million while its total assets were US$1,628.5 million.
The Financial Strength and Credit Rating of Africa Re is A (Stable) by A.M. Best Company (since 2016) and A – (Stable) Standard & Poor’s (since 2009).
Besides its dedication to professional insurance capacity building and technical assistance to African insurers, Africa Re participates in the equity of major regional development institutions: Africa Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), Shelter Africa, African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), Preferential Trade Area Bank (PTA Bank) and invests significantly in African financial markets.
Up to 2% of Africa Re’s annual net profit is used to finance Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in member countries with a focus on risk management for development.
Plot 1679 Karimu Kotun Street
Victoria Island P.M.B. 12765 Lagos
Nigeria
Expertise Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer
Dr Corneille KAREKEZI rose to the current position of Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of Africa Re in July 2011 after a transitional period of 2 years during which he served successively as Deputy Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director / Chief Operating Officer. Between 2003 and 2005 he served on the Board of Africa Re.
His professional career started in 1991 as Chief Accountant /Reinsurance Manager of the leading insurance company in Burundi (SOCABU s.m.), where he rose to the position of Head of the Finance Department. In 1995, he joined the leading insurance company in Rwanda (SONARWA s.a.) as Deputy Head of the Commercial & Technical Department. From 1996, he successively headed all the Technical Departments (Motor, Fire, Accidents & Miscellaneous Risks and Life) and was appointed Deputy Managing Director in early 2001. In February 2008, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of SONARWA s.a.
Dr KAREKEZI holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Burundi), Postgraduate Diplomas in Business Administration (UK), a Master’s degree in Management (Burundi), an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (UK) and a Doctorate in Business Administration (France & Israel). He speaks fluently English, French, Swahili and other African languages.
Since 1996, he has contributed significantly to the development of the insurance / reinsurance industry in Africa through his involvement and leadership in various national, regional and continental initiatives and organizations. He has equally participated actively as speaker in seminars, conferences, symposia and other fora across the world.
He has served as Chairman and member of governing bodies of various financial institutions in Africa. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Africa Re (South Africa) Limited, Vice Chairman of Africa Retakaful Company (Egypt) and a Member of the Executive Committee of the African Insurance Organization (AIO) where he chairs the Finance Committee.
