Howden snares Swiss Re veteran in push for low carbon future

Insurance broker  Howden has hired a long-serving Swiss Re executive to help accelerate and de-risk the move towards a low carbon economy. The company is seeing "significant increase" in demand for insurance solutions that focus on sustainable transformation for the long term.

Stanley Cochrane has been appointed as head of energy transformation. Working with Howden’s Natural Resources and Climate Risk and Resilience teams, his main areas of focus will be helping clients to navigate the changing risk landscape as they transition towards low-carbon energy sources; and further developing the potential for insurance to remove financial barriers to the projects that enable the transition.

Cochrane joins Howden from Swiss Re, where he spent 30 years as a property underwriter, specialising in energy, natural resources and complex risks. Most recently, he spent six years in Singapore as head property & specialty Asia Pacific.

Richard Haines, Howden's head of natural resources, stated that Cochrane's strong underwriting perspective and broad, international experience of energy and natural resources industries will be invaluable in helping insurers to better understand clients’ changing risk profile, and develop tailor-made cover that meets their changing requirements.

Charlie Langdale, head of Howden’s Climate Risk and Resilience division, said: “As the technology required to enable the transition to a low carbon economy becomes increasingly viable, we are seeing a significant increase in demand for insurance solutions to help to release the capital to finance these projects.

“Stanley’s holistic view of the energy and natural resources industries, and understanding of emerging trends, will help to ensure we are supporting the projects that will make a real impact in delivering a sustainable transformation.”

Cochrane commented: “The energy transition dilemma is well publicised; global energy demand will continue to grow in coming decades and renewable energy sources alone cannot meet this demand. Energy providers will need to adjust, refocus and come up with solutions, and they need their insurance providers to do the same.

“There is no quick and easy answer, but Howden has a proven track record of finding innovative solutions to difficult challenges. I am excited to join the team and am confident that, by working in partnership with energy providers, insurers and other stakeholders, we can support a transition that focuses on the sustainable and accessible delivery of energy for the long term.”

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