About

Dr. Sylva de Fluiter

Profile

Sylva de Fluiter is a seasoned leader who has acquired broad expertise in the financial services industry through experience in several executive positions and global responsibilities.

She looks back on a twenty-year track record in:

  • Structuring organisations
  • Risk management
  • Financial steering
  • Early recognition of external and internal change indicators
  • Conceptual design and implementation of new strategies
  • International expansion and new way of working

Ultimately, she managed a business volume of CHF 1.5bn and assets of CHF 2bn in her responsibility as Chief Executive Officer. Sylva embodies a powerful leadership approach developed from multiple responsibilities in Switzerland and abroad, in headquarters and branches of international corporations. Her profound expertise has been developed whilst setting up and transforming companies, working in various market environments and with teams from different cultural backgrounds. 

 

She effectively covered the key elements of the value chain and developed extensive prowess whilst making full use of her strategic, analytical, leadership and intercultural skills, coupled with transparent communication and continuous academic learning.

Board Experience

Athora Belgium

(since 2023)

Independent Non-Executive Director
Chair of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Chair of the Conflict Committee, Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
Athora is a leading European savings and retirement services group. Through its primary insurance subsidiaries it focuses on acquisition, transfer of portfolios and delivering long-term return.

SSI Wealth Management (since 2023)

Member of Nomination Member of Nomination Committee and Risk & Audit Committee Swiss wealth management company focusing on asset management, investment advice and family office services.

 

CareerZone (seit 2022)

Advisory Board Member

Spin-off from Lucerne University together with InnoSuisse

automating the recruiting process through AI-powered technologies.

 

Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs for the Blind  (1998 – 2013)

Non-Executive Board Member

Member of Board Committee

Mission to support people with visual impairment through breeding and training guide dogs.

SSI 

(since 2023)

SSI Holding: Board Chair (since 2024)
SSI Wealth Management: Non-Executive Board Member (2023)

Member of Nomination Committee and Risk & Audit Committee 

Swiss wealth management group focusing on asset management, investment advice and family office services.

SSI Wealth Management (since 2023)

Member of Nomination Member of Nomination Committee and Risk & Audit Committee Swiss wealth management company focusing on asset management, investment advice and family office services.

 

CareerZone (seit 2022)

Advisory Board Member

Spin-off from Lucerne University together with InnoSuisse

automating the recruiting process through AI-powered technologies.

 

Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs for the Blind  (1998 – 2013)

Non-Executive Board Member

Member of Board Committee

Mission to support people with visual impairment through breeding and training guide dogs.

CareerZone

(since 2022)

 

Advisory Board Member

Spin-off from Lucerne University together with InnoSuisse

automating the recruiting process through AI-powered technologies.

SSI Wealth Management (since 2023)

Member of Nomination Member of Nomination Committee and Risk & Audit Committee Swiss wealth management company focusing on asset management, investment advice and family office services.

 

CareerZone (seit 2022)

Advisory Board Member

Spin-off from Lucerne University together with InnoSuisse

automating the recruiting process through AI-powered technologies.

 

Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs for the Blind  (1998 – 2013)

Non-Executive Board Member

Member of Board Committee

Mission to support people with visual impairment through breeding and training guide dogs.

Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs 

for the Blind  

(1998 – 2013)

Non-Executive Board Member

Member of Board Committee          

Mission to support people with visual impairment through breeding and training guide dogs.
 

SSI Wealth Management (since 2023)

Member of Nomination Member of Nomination Committee and Risk & Audit Committee Swiss wealth management company focusing on asset management, investment advice and family office services.

 

CareerZone (seit 2022)

Advisory Board Member

Spin-off from Lucerne University together with InnoSuisse

automating the recruiting process through AI-powered technologies.

 

Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs for the Blind  (1998 – 2013)

Non-Executive Board Member

Member of Board Committee

Mission to support people with visual impairment through breeding and training guide dogs.
Work History

UNIQA Re

(2018-3.2022)

 

Sompo Canopius Re 

(2015-2018)

 

Infrassure         

(2010-2015)

 

Swiss Re

(1997-2010)

Chief Executive Officer
Member of UNIQA Group Committees
 

Chief Operating Officer 

Member of Executive Team (Founding Executive)

 

Chief Risk Officer (2013 – 2015) / Deputy Chief Risk Officer (2010 – 2013)

Member of Executive Team

 

Head Large Loss Management (2007 – 2010)
Member of Extended Executive Team CLM Division

 

Chief Operations Officer (2004 – 2007)
Member of Executive Team Risk Management Division

 

Head Client Management / Head Claims Management (2002 – 2004)
Member of Executive Team Swiss Re Madrid

UNIQA Re (2018-3.2022)

Chief Executive Officer
Member of UNIQA Group Committees
 

Sompo Canopius Re (2015-2018)

Chief Operating Officer 

Member of Executive Team (Founding Executive)

 

Infrassure (2010-2015)

Chief Risk Officer (2013 – 2015) / Deputy Chief Risk Officer (2010 – 2013)

Member of Executive Team

 

Swiss Re (1997-2010)

Head Large Loss Management (2007 – 2010)
Member of Extended Executive Team CLM Division

 

Chief Operations Officer (2004 – 2007)
Member of Executive Team Risk Management Division

 

Head Client Management / Head Claims Management (2002 – 2004)
Member of Executive Team Swiss Re Madrid

Further Positions and Activites
  • Swiss Foundation for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Member of the Board (1998 – 2013)
  • Coaching with focus on leadership and professional development (since 2011)
  • Member of European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) (since 2012)

Get in touch

Education
  • Certificate Leading Transformation, Harvard Business School (USA) – 2019
  • MSc in Coaching & Mentoring, Sheffield Hallam University (UK) – 2014
  • Certificate Change Leadership, Stanford University (USA) – 2006
  • MBA, University St. Gall (CH) / University Leuven Gent (B) – 2002
  • Leadership trainings (IMD, Stanford, Swiss Re Academy) – since 1997
  • PhD in Law, University of Zurich (CH) – 1996
  • Master in Law, University of Zurich (CH) – 1993

 

Professional Experience
  • Shaping the strategic focus of companies, leading to aligned business, performance and leadership goals
  • Setting up organisations, stand-alone or as part of larger groups in own leadership responsibility
  • Initiation and following though of transformation processes in organisations, including organisational design, developing and hiring people, new way of working, leadership styles, culture and communication
  • M&A competency from due diligence, to acquisition and post-merger integration
  • Stakeholder management, ranging from team, customer, investors and board members to regulatory authorities
  • Work and leadership experience in Europe, Switzerland, UK, USA, LatAm, Asia
  • Mediation, interventions and workshops in complex, critical team situations
  • Assessment of candidates for leadership and executive positions
  • Sparring partner, mentor and coach for leaders and executives in various industries
  • The Coaching Style of Management, as own applied leadership style

 

Languages
  • German, Swiss German & Czech
  • English, Spanish, French & Dutch 
  • Italian & Polish 

native

full professional proficiency

fluent

  • German, Swiss German & Czech
  • English, Spanish, French & Dutch 
  • Italian & Polish 

native

full professional proficiency

fluent

Native:

German, Swiss German & Czech

 

Full professional proficiency:

English, Spanish, French & Dutch 

 

Fluent:

Italian & Polish 

 

Interests

Tennis, Golf, Skiing, Classic Car Rallyes, Sculpting & Gardening