Madrid brought together the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance executives from June 4 to 5 for the 53rd General Assembly of The Geneva Association, held under the theme “A World Under Strain: Resilience Amid Fragmentation.” Mapfre, BBVA Seguros, and VidaCaixa served as hosts for the event.
For two days, the presidents and CEOs of major global companies, along with institutional representatives and international experts, analyzed the major economic, geopolitical, and social challenges that are redefining the global context.
The main sessions addressed key issues such as financial stability, geoeconomic fragmentation and its implications for the insurance industry, as well as the evolving global risk landscape in an increasingly uncertain environment and financial inclusion.
“In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain world, insurance must establish itself as an essential pillar of stability, helping to protect people, companies, and economies against increasingly complex risks,” said Antonio Huertas, Group Executive Chairman of Mapfre.
The program also included debates on structural challenges such as population aging and its impact on social protection systems, as well as on the security of critical infrastructures against both physical and cyber threats.
In this regard, Javier Valle, CEO of VidaCaixa, highlighted: “Increasing longevity is profoundly reshaping economies around the world, and the insurance industry is a key player—alongside governments and other civil society stakeholders—in addressing the challenges posed by this demographic shift, given its role in protecting financial well-being and health.”
Among the prominent participants were Luis de Guindos, Vice President of the European Central Bank; Charles Michel, former President of the European Council; Pablo Hernández de Cos, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements; and Jose Antonio Fernandez de Pinto, Director General of the Directorate General of Insurance and Pension Funds (DGSFP), as well as international experts in geopolitics, economics, and security, who provided their insights on the new international scenario.
In the opinion of Eugenio Yurrita, CEO of BBVA Seguros: “The main outcome of this gathering and the exchange of perspectives during the discussions has been to strengthen the development of an increasingly resilient insurance industry. Only through this collective strength can we fulfill our fundamental purpose: to protect and serve our policyholders when they need us most, demonstrating every day that we are worthy of the trust they place in us.”
Additionally, Elena Sanz, CEO of Mapfre IBERIA, received the Women in Insurance Award from the Association in recognition of her outstanding leadership of the company during a period marked by significant transformation initiatives and the management of catastrophic events in Spain, such as the 2024 Spanish floods.
The gathering concluded with a call to strengthen collaboration between insurance companies, public institutions, and international organizations to face global challenges and contribute to economic stability in an increasingly complex context.
With this meeting, Madrid consolidated its role as an international meeting point for economic and financial analysis, while the insurance industry emphasized its strategic relevance in global risk management.
