DEVK RE Appoints New Chief Underwriting Officer

DEVK RE has appointed Cliff Falkenhagen as its new Chief Underwriting Officer, effective January 1, 2026. He will succeed Wolfgang Jöbkes, who is retiring on March 1, 2026, after more than 46 years with the DEVK Group.

Jöbkes, 66, has led DEVK's ceded reinsurance department since 1987 and was responsible for developing the incoming reinsurance business since 2001. Under his leadership, incoming reinsurance evolved from a niche area into a profitable growth engine, with written premiums from non-DEVK business exceeding EUR 1 billion in the 2025 financial year.

Falkenhagen, 41, is a long-serving DEVK employee with 20 years in the group. He began his career in 2005 as an assistant underwriter and progressed through various roles, including team manager for incoming reinsurance. He has been instrumental in developing the reinsurance business in Europe and North America and was appointed Executive Vice President in early 2023, overseeing multiple underwriting divisions and analytics.

The appointment ensures continuity and expertise within DEVK RE's reinsurance operations. Falkenhagen's handover will provide a two-month transition period. DEVK RE and its Swiss subsidiary Echo RE collectively reinsure approximately 1,000 insurance companies across more than 120 countries.