Recommended Free Tools
Howden Re announced on 1 October 2026 that Hayley Schell will join as Managing Director in South Africa on 1 November 2026. She will be based in Johannesburg, report to Attilio Tornetta and work closely with Gary Ankcorn and the wider local team. The appointment is part of Howden Re’s stated investment in South Africa and its wider Middle East and Africa (MEA) business.
What the appointment involves
Schell is due to take up the South Africa managing director role on 1 November 2026. Howden Re announced the appointment on 1 October and said she will be based in Johannesburg. Her start date is still in the future as of 3 October 2026.
She will report to Attilio Tornetta, Managing Director and Head of Howden Re MEA Treaty & Regional Retro. She is also expected to work closely with Gary Ankcorn, Managing Director, Howden Re South Africa, and the wider local team.
Schell’s experience and reported career history
Howden Re says Schell brings “more than 34 years of experience in non-life insurance and reinsurance broking and underwriting leadership.” That is the company’s summary of her experience.
#1 Best Overall
Reinsurance News reports that Schell spent eight years at Swiss Re as Regional Manager P&C Southern Africa | Vice President | Europe, Middle East & Africa, and previously worked as a Senior Broker at Guy Carpenter. Howden Re’s announcement does not provide that career chronology.
Why Howden Re says it made the appointment
Howden Re describes the hire as part of its continued investment in South Africa and the wider MEA region. The company says it aims to build a more connected regional platform by combining local expertise with regional capabilities; the announcement sets out that strategy, not evidence of future commercial results.
Rank #2
Ankcorn linked the appointment to the challenges facing South African clients. He said: “Hayley joins at an important time for the market. South Africa’s protection gap is widening, and insurers, municipalities and government are all feeling the pressure from catastrophe and climate risk. Howden Re has dedicated specialty, parametric and alternative solutions teams, and combining them with local and regional expertise like Hayley’s means we can give clients practical answers to the challenges they face.” These are Ankcorn’s assessment and description of Howden Re’s approach.
Tornetta said: “I am delighted to welcome Hayley to Howden Re. Her deep knowledge of the South African market and its clients makes her a significant addition to our business here. Her appointment is another important step in our continued investment in the market, and her relationships will be a real asset as we grow our client base in South Africa and across the region.”
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Mario Baotic, Head of International Growth Markets at Howden Re, framed the hire as part of the company’s regional plans: “An appointment of Hayley’s calibre reflects our commitment to hiring exceptional local talent. It also underlines Howden Re’s long-term commitment to South Africa and the wider MEA region as we build a more connected regional platform.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the announcement does—and does not—establish
The announcement identifies specialty, parametric and alternative solutions as capabilities Howden Re says it can bring together with local and regional expertise. It does not provide technical or commercial details with which to compare those solutions, nor independent market statistics supporting the statements about South Africa’s protection gap or climate and catastrophe pressures. Since Schell is not due to start until 1 November 2026, the announcement also provides no results from her tenure.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ['Lonely Planet's Top Picks - a visually inspiring collection of the destination's best experiences and where to have them', 'Itineraries help you build the ultimate trip based on your personal needs and interests', 'Local insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience', 'Eating and drinking - get the most out of your gastronomic experience', 'Toolkit - all of the planning tools for solo travellers, LGBTQIA+ travellers, family travellers and accessible travel', 'Colour maps and images throughout', 'Language - essential phrases and language tips', 'Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local', 'Covers Cape Town, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Johannesburg and Gauteng, Kruger National Park, Limpopo, North West Province, Northern Cape, Lesotho, Eswatini']
Sources
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
