Howden Re, the global reinsurance, capital markets and strategic consulting area of the Howden Group, announced the appointment of Filipe Duarte as Head of Howden Re Portugal, taking up duties on August 2, 2026, and being based in Lisbon. This appointment marks the company's first physical presence in Portugal and represents the first step of a broader investment strategy in the Portuguese market, with plans to strengthen the local team in the coming months through the hiring of experienced professionals.
Filipe Duarte brings with him more than 16 years of experience in the insurance sector, including more than 12 years in reinsurance. He transitions from Aon Reinsurance, where he was Head of Treaties, responsible for consulting and placement of reinsurance solutions for insurers in Portugal. His career began at Willis in Lisbon in 2010, and includes executive education at Harvard University and an MBA at AESE/IESE Business School.
The entry into Portugal comes in a particularly active year for the sector, marked by an unprecedented sequence of storms, including Storm Kristin in the first quarter of 2026, which underscored the need for more sophisticated catastrophe models. The company also sees an opportunity in the development of the future Portuguese Natural Catastrophes Pool and is currently advising the Spanish Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros on optimizing its catastrophe fund, intending to bring that experience to Portugal.
David Santos, Managing Director and Head of Iberia at Howden Re, stated that the appointment is an important milestone and that Filipe Duarte brings deep technical knowledge and a solid network built over more than a decade in the market. For Tobias Andersson, Head of Continental Europe, Portugal and the Iberian Peninsula are important markets for the company, and the approach involves combining local talent with the experience and reach of the global business.
