Sompo has named Cédric Wells as head of claims for its insurance operations in Continental Europe, effective immediately.
Based in Paris, Wells will lead claims strategy and broker relationships across key European markets, including Germany, Austria, France, Iberia, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Wells brings more than 25 years of experience in insurance, with a career spanning senior claims roles at major international reinsurers. Most recently, he spent over 13 years at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions as head of claims for France, Iberia, and Italy. In addition to managing complex claims, he sat on the SRI France executive committee and the EMEA claims leadership team.
Earlier in his career, Wells held senior claims and legal management roles at SCOR Global P&C, overseeing large property and casualty claims, including facultative losses of up to €50 million. He also served as legal counsel at La Réunion Aérienne, where he advised on policy wordings, claims, and regulatory matters. His legal career began with internships at the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales and FG Associes, where he focused on satellite contracts and internet law.
Beyond his professional career, Wells is a CEDR-accredited mediator (since 2022) and co-founder of the Bookbridge Learning Center in Bayankhonghor, Mongolia, established in 2018.
Alongside this appointment, Sompo has also announced changes at the board level. Nicholas Walsh has been named independent non-executive chairman, bringing over 50 years of insurance industry expertise. He succeeds James Shea, who was recently appointed CEO of Sompo Property and Casualty (Sompo P&C). In addition, the board has welcomed Monica Cramér Manhem and Yoshihiro Uotani, both of whom strengthen the company’s depth in underwriting, risk management, and global markets.
The appointments come as Sompo continues to implement its group-wide restructuring. In February, Sompo Holdings reorganized into two core business segments: Sompo Property and Casualty and Sompo Wellbeing. The move consolidated global insurance and reinsurance operations under Sompo P&C, led by James Shea.
