FERMA has appointed Laurent Nihoul as its next chief executive officer, effective December 1.
Nihoul, who currently serves on FERMA’s board and chairs its Captives Committee, will become the first senior leader from the insurance and risk management sector to assume the CEO role.
Bringing nearly 30 years of industry experience, Nihoul has held leadership positions spanning reinsurance, enterprise risk management, risk finance, and underwriting. Since 2014, he has served as general manager and group head of insurance at ArcelorMittal, where he was responsible for the company’s global insurance strategy.
As CEO, Nihoul will focus on strengthening FERMA’s advocacy initiatives, enhancing collaboration with its member associations, and advancing the risk management profession across Europe and beyond.
Incoming president Philippe Cotelle welcomed the appointment, noting:
“By aligning our strategic direction with executive focus, we will unite and energize the risk management community, extend our reach, and ensure FERMA continues to drive cooperation, innovation, and influence across Europe and internationally.”
FERMA Champions Long-Term Risk Strategies
In parallel, FERMA’s Foresight Committee has urged organisations to adopt long-term risk strategies, moving beyond short-term crisis response to more sustainable and forward-looking practices.
Its latest report calls for risk management to be integrated into overall business strategy, with risk professionals playing a central role in strategic decision-making. This shift, the committee emphasized, is vital to enhancing resilience and preparing organisations for emerging and systemic threats.
The findings also underscore the need for closer collaboration between risk managers, insurers, and public authorities to tackle shared challenges such as climate change and cyber risks. FERMA aims to facilitate this cooperation to strengthen Europe’s collective response to a rapidly evolving risk landscape.
FERMA president Charlotte Hedemark said Nihoul’s appointment underscores the organisation’s commitment to experienced, strategic leadership capable of guiding these long-term priorities.
