Howden Re launches Iberia arm with senior hires from Nacional Re

Howden Re has launched operations in Iberia with the appointment of David Santos as managing director and Antonio Pombo as director, both joining from Spain’s national reinsurer, Nacional Re.

The two executives, based in Madrid, will focus on building Howden Re’s reinsurance proposition in Spain, Portugal and Andorra, while supporting Howden Group’s broader footprint in the region.

Santos was previously commercial director at Nacional Re, and Pombo served as senior client manager for Iberia.

Howden already has a longstanding presence in the Iberian market through insurance broking and its MGA business.

The addition of Howden Re creates an integrated platform for reinsurance clients.

Tobias Andersson, head of continental Europe at Howden Re, said the launch marked “a key milestone” in the firm’s expansion.

“David and Antonio bring exceptional client insight and deep market expertise, which will be critical as we build our capabilities in the region,” he said.

“Their appointments reflect our commitment to investing in local leadership while delivering global reinsurance solutions tailored to regional client needs.”

Santos said joining Howden Re was an opportunity to combine global scale with local expertise.

“Iberia is a dynamic and increasingly sophisticated market, and clients are looking for partners who combine global reach with deep local understanding,” he said.

“With Howden Re’s entrepreneurial culture and commitment to long-term investment in the region, we are well placed to deliver innovative, client-first reinsurance solutions.”

The Iberia launch follows Howden Re’s recent expansions into the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India, underscoring the broker’s strategy of scaling its global platform while investing in regional leadership.