Howden Re hires Garcia and Lopez to expand Latin America and Caribbean reach

Howden Re says it has strengthened its Latin America and Caribbean capabilities with the appointments of Carlos Garcia as managing director and Karina Lopez as director, as the broker continues to expand its presence across key growth markets.

Both hires will join in May and be based in New Jersey, bringing established relationships with multinational, Puerto Rican and Dominican clients, alongside broader regional experience.

The reinsiurance broker’s move reflects increasing demand for sophisticated reinsurance solutions across Latin America and the Caribbean, where a diverse client base ranges from global insurers with complex cross-border programmes to local carriers requiring tailored solutions.

Howden Re said the appointments will enhance its ability to support clients across the region, building on its existing footprint in Brazil, Miami and Peru.

Garcia brings more than two decades of experience across retail insurance and reinsurance, having previously worked at rivals Marsh and Guy Carpenter, where he developed strategic reinsurance solutions for clients across highly exposed markets.

Lopez joins from Guy Carpenter with 14 years of experience in the Latin America and Caribbean treaty division, with a focus on building long-term client relationships and delivering tailored reinsurance programmes.

April McLaughlin, head of Howden Miami, said the region presents a significant opportunity for growth.

“Latin America and the Caribbean is a key growth region for Howden Re, presenting a compelling opportunity: a large, complex and underserved market where clients are increasingly looking for brokers with genuine local expertise and access to global capacity,” she said.

“Carlos and Karina’s depth of experience across the region’s most exposed markets, combined with their technical rigour and strong client relationships, further strengthens the proposition we are building for clients across Latin America and the Caribbean,” she added.

Mario Baotic, head of international growth markets, international treaty at Howden Re, said the hires align with the firm’s broader regional ambitions.

“This is a region with significant catastrophe exposure, a rapidly maturing insurance market and real appetite for specialist reinsurance solutions,” he said.

“The appointments of Carlos and Karina reflect our ambition for Howden Re to be the partner of choice for clients across the region,” he added.