Howden Re Inspire: Meet Lars Nelson
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In our Howden Re Inspire series, we are proud to showcase our amazing team.
It’s important to us that the businesses and divisions within Howden Re reflect and contribute to the culture that we at Howden are so proud of. We are a global business with an entrepreneurial mindset, and we put our people first in everything we do. We value independent thinkers, celebrate different perspectives and experiences, and strive to make Howden a great place to work.
Our collaborative approach and collective power make us an industry leader, but it’s our people who make it possible!
Whether they’re forging a unique path in or outside business, leading the way on community impact, giving back, or D&I initiatives, or demonstrating what it takes to make a difference, we are proud to introduce you to our team.
Be Inspired by: Lars Nelson, Head of branch, Howden Re Germany
Lars Nelson joined Howden Re in 2025 as the managing director and head of branch for Howden Re Germany. With experience on both the broking and underwriting side of reinsurance, Lars has extensive experience in the sector.
“In my experience on the underwriting side, I was working with southern and eastern European countries as well as central European countries with a focus on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland,” says Lars. “My most recent broking role was more geographically focussed, but I now once again have a chance to work internationally with my colleagues from across Europe and the wider international business. We have a strong focus on collaboration,”
Prior to joining Howden Re, Lars used his six-month gardening leave to volunteer for Hamburger Tafel as a lorry driver.
“The Hamburger Tafel is a charitable organization dedicated to alleviating poverty and reducing food waste,” explains Lars. “Volunteers like me help collect surplus food from supermarkets, bakeries, and other food businesses and distribute it to people in need through various social institutions.”
During his time volunteering, Lars would drive to collect the food which could have been rejected by customers for appearances, or nearing expiry dates, and deliver it to distribution points managed by Hamburger Tafel.
“It was a great experience to do something completely outside of the industry and meet people from all different backgrounds; from pensioners to students who were volunteering, to meeting the people who we’re helping access food they can afford,” said Lars. “I was really impressed by everyone I met, and it gives you a good perspective to not take things for granted in your daily life.”
In addition to impacting his personal views, Lars has found the six-month experience has better shaped his understanding of colleagues in the industry.
“I’m a bit more sensible to other people’s challenges now. Something that I may regard as being small could really mean a lot to them, and I’ve tried to bring more of that understanding and growth back into the office and in how I lead my team,” he said.
While Howden Re continues to build the new team in Germany, Lars says he welcomes the opportunity to shape what the future of the market with the client management team.
“Germany is a huge market when it comes to insurance services, and we have some of the largest reinsurance companies domiciled in Germany. It’s a very interesting marketplace and this is a very good opportunity for us as a reinsurance broker, he comments. “Germany has a limited number of professional reinsurance brokers as it is, so we think with the combined infrastructure and analytical support from London and beyond, we have a unique position in the market at Howden Re.”
