Paris, April 29, 2026 — Descartes Underwriting, the global leader in parametric (re)insurance solutions for climate, cyber, and emerging risks, has expanded its Executive Committee with the appointment of Jean Hermelin to the new role of Chief Strategy Officer.
Reporting to CEO and co-founder Tanguy Touffut, Hermelin will lead Group strategy definition and oversee its implementation, with a focus on identifying new growth levers and contributing to the improvement of operational and sales efficiency.
Jean Hermelin brings over 12 years of experience in strategy consulting at Oliver Wyman, where he led transformation and commercial effectiveness programs for international insurance companies. His cross-functional expertise ranges from business development and partnership negotiation to operational excellence.
The creation of the new Chief Strategy Officer role comes amid sustained growth and continuous innovation at Descartes, which eclipsed $250 million in premiums in 2025 and targets $500 million within three years. Hermelin’s appointment will help achieve this ambition, as he will seek to expand the range of innovative solutions Descartes delivers. Recent innovative launches by Descartes include new products for data centers, flood risks, and the expansion of its parametric reinsurance offering.
With the help of its network of broker partners, the Descartes Group has consolidated its position as the leader of the parametric insurance market. It expanded its international footprint, with over 40% of business generated in North America and 25% in Asia-Pacific, as it continues to capitalize on its recognized expertise in climate risks.
This development is accompanied by a reorganization of marketing activities to better support sales efforts. The Chief Insurance Officer’s department now oversees content creation and lead generation, under the leadership of Maxime Deroubaix, while the CEO’s office manages branding, external communications, and events, under the direction of Marie-Anne Faidy.
