Jean Hermelin has joined Descartes Underwriting as chief strategy officer (CSO), a newly created role within the managing general agent’s (MGA) expanded executive committee, the company announced on Thursday.
Descartes says it created the CSO role in line with its growth plans: the MGA wrote US$250m in premiums in 2025 and is targeting US$500m within three years.
Hermelin moves to Descartes with more than 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.
In his new role, he will report to chief executive officer and co-founder Tanguy Touffut and 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.
“Hermelin’s appointment will help achieve this ambition, as he will seek to expand the range of innovative solutions Descartes delivers,” the company said, adding that it recently launched new products for data centers, flood risks, and the expansion of its parametric reinsurance offering.
The MGA now generates over 40% of its business in North America and 25% in Asia-Pacific, with a focus on climate risk expertise.
