Reinsurer Scor’s chairman Denis Kessler dies aged 71
- March 8, 2025
- Posted by: Web workers
- Category: Finance
(Reuters) – Scor SE’s non-executive chairman Denis Kessler, credited with making the French reinsurer one of the leading players in its field, has died aged 71, the company said on Friday.
Mr. Kessler joined Scor in November 2002 as its chairman and chief executive, a position he kept until June 2021, when Laurent Rousseau was appointed CEO. That came amid a campaign led by activist investor CIAM to oust Mr. Kessler due to share price underperformance and concerns about corporate governance.
CIAM was also unhappy Mr. Kessler had in 2019 successfully opposed an €8.5 billion euro ($9.2 billion) takeover attempt by Scor’s largest shareholder Covea Mutual Insurance Group Co.
Mr. Rousseau was replaced last May by Thierry Leger as CEO.
Scor’s vice-chairman of the board, Augustin de Romanet, will be acting chair until a new one is appointed.
“Denis Kessler turned the group around in spectacular fashion over a period of more than two decades, enabling it to become a leading global reinsurer,” Scor said in a statement.
