Ivo Furrer graduated in law from the universities of Zurich and Fribourg and earned his PhD with a thesis on occupational provisions. He joined Winterthur Life in 1982, initially working in group insurance marketing and later assuming various project management roles aimed at developing the strategy for and expanding Winterthur’s international insurance business in Europe, Canada and the USA. In 1992 he relocated to the USA, where he worked in underwriting. From 1994 to 1997 he held a number of management positions at Winterthur International in London before being appointed Chief Underwriting Officer of this business area. In 1999 he moved to Credit Suisse Group, where he developed and implemented an internet bank in Luxembourg and was subsequently appointed Head of e-Investment Services Europe.

Ivo Furrer began working for Zurich Financial Services in 2002, first in Germany as head of the international key account business and later developing key account and distribution management at a global level. In 2007 he was appointed CEO Life Switzerland and member of the Global Life Executive Committee.

On 1 September 2008, Ivo Furrer has joined the Swiss Life Group as CEO Switzerland and member of the Corporate Executive Board.