Swiss Re's Honorary Chairman Walter B. Kielholz named Honorary Citizen of Singapore

Singapore, 25 August 2022 – Swiss Re's Honorary Chairman Walter B. Kielholz has received the 2020 Singapore Honorary Citizen Award, the highest form of national recognition by the Singapore Government for non-Singaporeans. It is awarded to those who have contributed extensively to Singapore and its people and are highly respected for their professional accomplishments.

Walter B. Kielholz has contributed to the development and transformation of Singapore's financial centre. Under his stewardship, the Swiss Re Group has grown in its functions and capabilities in Singapore, where the establishment of Swiss Re Asia in 2018 has further anchored the Group's presence and importance in the region. As a member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) International Advisory Panel from 2009 to 2021, he has shared his insights, knowledge and expertise on the international insurance industry and global financial sector, advising MAS on Singapore's financial sector strategy and reform.

Walter B. Kielholz said: "My first visit to Singapore was in 1976 and over the years, I have witnessed Singapore's transformation into the leading global financial and FinTech hub it is today, becoming a model for other countries to emulate. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this evolution and I thank Singapore for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the insurance and risk financing landscape here."

Mr Ravi Menon, Managing Director, MAS, said, "Walter Kielholz has played a significant role in Singapore’s growth as a global reinsurance marketplace. Under his leadership, Swiss Re made Singapore its Asia-Pacific hub, creating many good jobs and strong capabilities in risk financing. My colleagues and I have benefitted from Walter’s keen insights and wise counsel, not just on issues relating to the insurance industry but also broader strategies to strengthen Singapore as a leading global financial centre. He has been a trusted friend and partner to Singapore, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to him on being recognised as an Honorary Citizen."

Honorary Citizen Award

The title of Honorary Citizen is a national award conferred by the Singapore Government since 2003 to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of foreigners who have rendered extensive and valuable services to Singapore and its people, or who have made a significant impact in the areas of business, science and technology, information communications, education, health, arts and culture, sports, tourism and community services, or security.

The Honorary Citizen Award is the highest form of national recognition for a non-Singaporean and ranks ahead of existing awards – the Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) Award and the Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) Award.

The title of Honorary Citizen is conferred for life.

About Swiss Re

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cyber crime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally.