The Speakers 2026

Olivier Balmat is a seasoned expert in enterprise risk management and corporate governance. Since 2015, he has served as Head of Group Risk & Compliance at MCH Group AG, overseeing insurance management, compliance, internal audit, internal control frameworks and M&A advisory. Previously, he led Group Risk Management at Syngenta, working closely with insurance, legal and compliance functions. Earlier roles include insurance and transaction-related risk functions at UBS and insurance brokerage. He holds an Executive MBA from the University of Rochester – Simon Business School.

Since July 2023, Dominik Bark is the Head of Financial Lines, EMEA at AIG and previously hold the position as Head of Financial Lines, FBL (France, Belgium and Luxembourg) at AIG.
Dominik, who has the German and French nationality, begun his career in 2005, as an FL Underwriter for AIG in Paris and Zurich, soon advancing to the position of Team Leader FL in Brussels and later taking over as Head of Financial Institutions in Dubai.
Dominik’s career then led to senior positions with Zurich Insurance in Dubai and London, including as Regional Head of Financial Lines, EMEA, followed by a position as Managing Director of Simplesurance in Berlin, a leading insurtech MGA that focuses on the distribution of retail insurance products through a fully digital platform. Dominik has an MBA in Finance & Banking and Entrepreneurship from the European Business School in Germany, and is fluent in English, French and German. His studies have also let him to the University of Technology in Sydney, as well as the École Supérieure de Commerce in Dijon.

Thorsten Bode has been Vice President Corporate Insurance at BASF SE since 2018. In this role, he serves as Deputy Head of Corporate Insurance and leads the Liability and Financial Lines sub‑division. He is also a member of the Executive Board of BASF’s captive, Lucura Versicherungs AG. As a qualified lawyer, Thorsten Bode has been active in international risk management for 20 years. After studying law and completing his legal traineeship (Referendariat) with a focus on business law, he began his career in 2001 in the legal department of ACG Advanced Component Group AG in the M&A sector. He then assumed responsibility for corporate liability and D&O insurance at HDI Industrie Versicherung AG. In 2006, he joined BASF SE, where he spent many years leading the Liability and Financial Lines segments, overseeing regional insurance programs in Europe, and taking on compliance responsibilities for Lucura Versicherungs AG. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Director Corporate Insurance for BASF Corporation in the United States and was a member of the Board of Directors of Lumerica Corporation, another BASF captive. He subsequently headed the corporate insurance function at Wintershall Holding GmbH as Head of Corporate Insurance.

Gregor Erismann brings deep expertise in driving international growth and market transformation in the tech sector. As Co-CEO at Exeon Analytics, an award-winning ETH Zurich spin-off, he specializes in scaling high-tech solutions and navigating the complexities of network and identity security. Under his leadership, Exeon has become a European leader in threat detection and response, providing major finance, utility, manufacturing, and logistics enterprises and public authorities with powerful software to secure modern, heterogeneous infrastructures.

Jens Krickhahn is regional Head of Underwriting Cyber, Tech & Media PI at Allianz Commercial GER-SUI. Before re-joining Allianz (AGCS) in 2014, he was Technical Underwriting Manager for Tech/Media/Telco at specialist insurer Hiscox, where he developed one of the first stand-alone insurance solutions for cyber and data risks for the German-speaking market. Jens Krickhahn started his career in the insurance industry in 1993 at Frankfurter Allianz. When he moved to CHUBB in 1998, Krickhahn specialised in tech & media PI as head of the TIS (Technology Insurance Specialty) department. With over 30 years in the insurance industry, he has worked on both the insurer and broker sides and therefore knows both sides of the business. Krickhahn worked for many years as a lecturer for TECH-PI / Cyber for BWV Südwest.

Daniel Meßmer is a qualified lawyer at Swiss Re Europe S.A., German Branch. He has been with the Swiss Re Group since 1995, specializing in Financial Lines, including Professional Indemnity, D&O, Crime, and Legal Expenses insurance. He began his insurance career in 1994 at R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AG in Wiesbaden. In 1995, he joined Bayerische Rückversicherung AG in Munich. Since 2002, he has held senior roles at Swiss Re. Since 2020, he focuses on facultative Financial Lines reinsurance across EMEA. He chairs the GDV D&O Working Group and is a founding board member of the German Association for Professional Indemnity Insurance (DGVH).

Gianclaudio Moresi is Corporate CISO at Forbo Group AG and represents a modern approach to security: independent, advisory, and clearly focused on business value. He combines governance and risk management with hands-on execution — from security awareness and incident response to the measurable reduction of real attack surfaces. In addition to his role as a CISO, he is an entrepreneur and founder of several cybersecurity-focused platforms. He publishes books, whitepapers, and practical guides that make complex topics accessible and provide decision-makers with clear, actionable insights. He is also a regular guest at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). As the organizer of the Swiss Cyber AI Conference in Lugano, he brings together experts, innovation, and leadership with the goal of positioning security as a driver of growth.

Thomas Pache is a recognized expert in professional indemnity, IT liability, and cyber insurance with extensive leadership experience across the DACH region. After serving as a technical officer in the German Armed Forces, he earned degrees in engineering and industrial engineering. He has held senior specialist and management roles at leading international insurers and brokers, including AIG, Riskpoint, and Aon. Since October 2024, he has been Head of PI/Cyber DACH at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, focusing on strategic solutions for digital risks. In addition, he is a published author, lecturer, and long-standing member of key GDV working groups.

Serdar Günal Rütsche is the head of the cybercrime department of the Zurich cantonal police and leads the national network for digital investigation support in internet crime (NEDIK). With his many years of proven experience as a computer scientist and police officer, he is responsible for investigations in the field of cybercrime. Rütsche has worked extensively on data analysis, surveillance measures and various forms of cybercrime, including ransomware, phishing and online fraud. He lectures on cyber security at various universities.

Henning Schaloske is Partner at Clyde & Co and is responsible for the firm’s European practice as Chair of the European Board. His practice focuses on complex national and international claims and litigation before state courts as well as arbitration proceedings as monitoring, coverage, and defence counsel. He advises in particular in the areas of financial and professional lines, cyber, product liability, and reinsurance.

Thomas Schnitzer is a Senior Cyber Risk Engineer at Zurich Insurance and has over 15 years of experience in information security and cyber insurance. After several years as a consultant and auditor for IT security projects, he gained extensive expertise in building and conducting cyber risk assessments, particularly at Swiss Re. Since 2022, he has been supporting Zurich’s underwriting team and develops practical analyses and assessment tools for cyber risks. Through his work, he bridges the gap between technical IT security and insurance-specific requirements. Thomas Schnitzer holds a master’s degree in business information systems and CISA, CISM, CISSP, and CEH certifications.

Ana Sesar is Head of Specialties and a member of the Executive Board at HDI Global SE Switzerland. In this role, she is responsible for a comprehensive portfolio, including financial lines. She has been shaping underwriting at HDI Global for more than ten years and has proven expertise in D&O, cyber and other special risk areas. She began her professional career at Kessler & Co AG, where she gained in-depth experience in liability and financial lines issues over a period of 14 years. She holds a degree in business administration from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (HF) and is currently completing a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Insurance Management at the ZHAW.

Philipp Strasser is a lawyer in Vienna and managing partner of his law firm with 15 lawyers. He specializes in insurance and reinsurance law, corporate and commercial law, and dispute resolution. His insurance focus is on financial/specialty lines products such as D&O, E&O/PI, POSI, W&I, cyber, and product and public liability. He also handles contract and tort disputes, particularly in banking, capital markets, and financial markets law. Philipp Strasser is also an established author of numerous specialist publications and speaker on current topics in his areas of expertise.

Jodok Wicki has practised law for over 30 years with a strong focus on insurance and dispute resolution. He advises and represents insurance and reinsurance companies in large and complex claims, including coverage, quantum, claims handling and monitoring counsel mandates. He also advises on policy drafting and regulatory issues. He is a Certified Specialist of the Swiss Bar Association in Torts and Insurance Law. He has extensive experience as lead counsel in complex disputes and international arbitration.