Continental Reinsurance Appoints Grace Wanja as Head of Underwriting in Nairobi
In a strategic move to reinforce its leadership and operational capacity in East Africa, Continental Reinsurance has appointed Grace Wanja as the new Head of Underwriting for its Nairobi office. This appointment is a vital step in the Pan-African reinsurer’s ongoing efforts to enhance underwriting performance and market responsiveness in the region.
Grace Wanja: A Proven Leader in Reinsurance
Grace Wanja, a veteran of the re/insurance industry with nearly 15 years of experience, brings a strong track record of technical proficiency and leadership. Her appointment reflects Continental Re’s long-standing strategy of promoting talent from within, fostering continuity, and building sustainable leadership pipelines.
Wanja joined Continental Re in October 2017 as Executive – Technical Operations. Her hands-on technical knowledge and collaborative leadership style made her a key contributor in underwriting functions and technical decision-making within the Nairobi office.
Grace Wanja’s Career Path and Industry Experience
In 2023, Grace Wanja was entrusted with leading Business Development for the company, a move that showcased her ability to bridge technical operations with client relations and market growth. Her work in this area underscored her capability to drive strategy in two critical pillars: underwriting and business expansion.
Before joining Continental Re, Wanja built a strong foundation in Kenya’s insurance industry. She worked as a Reinsurance Officer at Resolution Insurance Kenya, and earlier as a Reinsurance Underwriter at Clarkson Insurance Brokers Ltd. These roles gave her comprehensive exposure to both underwriting and broking aspects of the reinsurance ecosystem—an ideal mix for someone leading a regional underwriting team.
Grace Wanja’s Strategic Appointment at Continental Re Nairobi
The appointment of Grace Wanja to this executive role is both a recognition of her capabilities and a deliberate step in aligning underwriting operations with Continental Re’s strategic goals in East Africa. As Head of Underwriting, she will oversee underwriting policy execution, risk evaluation, and client relationship management, ensuring that the Nairobi office remains a reliable and responsive market player.
Continental Re reinforced its confidence in Wanja through a statement shared via LinkedIn:
“Grace’s broad experience, professional skills, and cross-functionality qualify her as the most appropriate individual for this essential position. This role adjustment re-emphasizes our unwavering commitment to our guarantee of continuity, stability, and excellence in our underwriting business.”
The announcement was met with enthusiastic support across the African insurance and reinsurance community.
Strengthening Continental Re’s Leadership with Grace Wanja
The appointment comes as Continental Re continues to reinforce underwriting leadership across its regional hubs. With the Nairobi office playing a central role in servicing the East African market, Wanja’s leadership is expected to support client retention, foster localized talent, and build sustainable underwriting strategies aligned with the region’s evolving risk landscape.
Furthermore, Wanja’s elevation underscores the reinsurer’s commitment to empowering women leaders in African insurance—a critical milestone in an industry where executive-level gender representation is still growing.
The Role of Nairobi Under Grace Wanja’s Leadership
For years, the Nairobi office has been a strategic anchor for Continental Re’s operations in East Africa. From treaty and facultative reinsurance to specialty lines, the office has delivered capacity and technical expertise across various industries. With Grace Wanja now at the helm, the Nairobi team is poised to enhance its agility, technical soundness, and responsiveness to emerging market demands.
In a competitive regional landscape, having a leader who understands both the technical depth and commercial dimensions of reinsurance is a strategic advantage—and Wanja is uniquely equipped for that role.
Grace Wanja to Drive Innovation and Integration
In her new role, Grace Wanja will have the opportunity to lead innovation in underwriting practices, improve risk modeling, and deepen collaboration between technical and business teams. Her dual background in operations and business development makes her ideally suited to lead cross-functional integration, which will be key to Continental Re’s growth trajectory.
As the industry faces challenges such as climate-related risk, pricing model shifts, and regulatory transformation, Wanja’s adaptive leadership will be instrumental in navigating the company through a dynamic and complex market environment.
Confidence in Local Talent: A Message of Continuity
The reinsurer’s decision to appoint Grace Wanja sends a strong message about its commitment to local talent development and leadership continuity. By promoting from within, Continental Re showcases the strength of its internal talent pipeline—setting a precedent for other African reinsurers to emulate.
“Please extend your congratulations to Grace on her appointment to this important leadership position. We have no doubt that under her guidance, Continental Reinsurance will remain an immense success.”
This vote of confidence highlights the company’s trust in homegrown expertise and its belief in nurturing leaders who understand local markets from the inside out.
Conclusion: A New Era Under Grace Wanja’s Leadership
With Grace Wanja officially taking on the role of Head of Underwriting, Continental Re Nairobi enters a new phase of strategic leadership. Her journey—from technical operations to executive leadership—is a reflection of the reinsurer’s commitment to fostering talent, driving innovation, and achieving operational excellence across the continent.
As African reinsurance continues to evolve, Grace Wanja’s leadership will be key in steering Continental Re toward sustainable growth, client-focused service, and long-term success in East Africa and beyond.
