The SEADRIF Insurance Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Benedikt Signer as Executive Director and Board Member, effective July 24, 2024.

Mr. Benedikt Signer has been a core part of the SEADRIF Insurance Company team since March 2023, acting as an Advisor to the Board in the areas of strategy, organizational and product development, partner and country engagement, public-private partnership and operational management.

In his new role, Mr. Signer will oversee the organization’s growth and progress towards strategic growth, performance, and financial health, while ensuring adherence to good governance practices.

Mr. Signer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in Disaster Risk Finance, combined with deep insights from his extensive experience working with governments and development partners in the region.

Mr. Signer previously worked in the World Bank’s Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance Program, housed in the Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice. He has also advised the Asian Development Bank as a technical team leader and worked with select global universities and private sector organizations. He is involved in several non-profit technology organizations around climate and sustainability.

Over a decade at the World Bank, Mr. Signer supported more than 20 countries in actively managing potential losses from climate and disaster shocks. In his last role as Program Coordinator for Crisis and Disaster Risk Finance, he coordinated this work across Southeast Asia. He was closely involved in the creation and implementation of multiple global initiatives, including co-leading the Global Risk Financing Facility (GRiF) and supporting the design of the G7-V20 Global Shield against Climate Risks. As a strong believer in the importance of better training and knowledge management, he co-led the establishment of the World Bank’s Financial Protection Academy which has by now reached over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries.

Before that, Mr. Signer worked at the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) on strategy, program development, and policy partnerships.

Dr. Yoshihiro Kawai, Board Chair of the SEADRIF Insurance Company, remarked “Benedikt exhibited exemplary performance at SEADRIF and has been instrumental in building the Company’s growth trajectory. I am delighted to welcome Benedikt as a core member of the leadership team. We look forward to continuing SEADRIF’s mission of strengthening the financial resilience of our member countries in the ASEAN region.”