Swiss Re’s Reinsurer pulls the plug on digital subsidiary Iptiq

The Iptiq platform was developed by Swiss Re to lead the reinsurer into the digital future, but it has fallen short of expectations, overshadowing the departure of CEO Christian Mumenthaler. The insurance industry faced threats from aggressive, agile, tech-driven startups (Insurtech) and low interest rates following the financial crisis. Swiss Re launched Iptiq to combat these threats and offer digital insurance products to third parties.

While there were some successes, such as partnerships with companies like Ikea and camper rental companies, Iptiq ultimately did not meet its growth and profitability targets. After 10 years, the division’s gross premiums were only $1.1 billion, with significant losses totaling $1.1 billion over four years. Swiss Re has decided to dismantle Iptiq and sell it off in parts.

The changing market landscape, including higher interest rates and the decline of other Insurtech startups, led Swiss Re to conclude that Iptiq was no longer necessary. Despite the costly venture, Mumenthaler believes that it was a promising option at the time of its launch. Swiss Re’s overall financial performance remains strong, with the first quarter of 2024 exceeding market expectations and the group sticking to its profit forecast for the year.

Mumenthaler will be stepping down as CEO, with Andreas Berger set to take over. The Iptiq fiasco highlights the challenges of navigating the digital transformation in the insurance industry. Despite this setback, Swiss Re continues to adapt to changing market conditions and maintain its profitability.