Munich Re appoints first head of diversity & inclusion

Juan Herrera has a long track record of establishing best-in-class diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Juan Herrera has been appointed the head of diversity & inclusion for Munich Re’s U.S. operations. (Photo: Munich Re)

In 2016, African-Americans accounted for 9.6% of all insurance underwriters employed by the industry. By 2018, that value increased to 13.7%, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The portion of Hispanic insurance underwriters also grew from 4.9% in 2016 to 6.2% in 2018.

As the industry becomes more diverse, companies are increasingly implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Munich Re announced the appointment of its first full-time head of diversity & inclusion, Juan Herrera. Based in New Jersey, Herrera will oversee all diversity and inclusion efforts spanning across the North American region, including Munich Reinsurance America, Munich Re Specialty Insurance, American Modern Insurance Group, and Hartford Steam Boiler. He will report to Brian Viscusi, U.S. regional head of human resources.

“We are very pleased to welcome Juan into this new role,” said Viscusi in a statement. “Juan has a proven track record of leading the way for new diversity and inclusion opportunities that can span across an entire organization. He will build off of our strong diversity and inclusion foundation by employing an approach that will be closely tied to the success of the organization and our employees. We already are making great strides in 2019 on our diversity and inclusion journey, and we’re looking forward to Juan’s leadership to take us even further.”

Prior to Munich Re, Herrera spent two years at a global property and casualty re/insurance, where he helped spearhead its inclusion efforts, such as managing and implementing gender balance initiatives.

From 2008 to 2015, he served in several roles at a multinational mass media company, serving as including vice president, Office of Inclusion, which he launched in 2008.

“I’m excited to join Munich Re as we continue to build on our solid inclusion foundation,” said Herrera in a release. “The reinsurance industry offers amazing opportunities for the best and the brightest to start and grow their careers. As our industry evolves, there are many ways in which we can create cultures where all colleagues want to do their best and everyone understands we all have a role to play in creating an inclusive workplace. I’m excited to be a part of Munich Re’s journey and help build upon our culture of belonging.”

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