African Risk Capacity Ltd (ARC Ltd.), the African Union’s specialised disaster risk insurance institution, has named David Maslo as its new Chief Executive Officer, alongside the opening of its new headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
ARC Ltd. is Africa’s first development-focused parametric insurer, currently serving 39 Member States. Established under an African Union mandate, the organisation helps African governments, eligible non-sovereign entities and development partners build resilience against disasters — offering risk insurance and financing solutions for climate-related events such as droughts and floods that threaten agriculture and food security, as well as public health emergencies including Ebola outbreaks.
Maslo brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience spanning Africa’s and the world’s insurance sectors, with deep expertise in climate and disaster risk financing across Africa and the Caribbean. He has a proven record of driving institutional transformation, strategic growth and innovation in risk financing.
He most recently served as ARC Ltd.’s Interim CEO, a period during which the organisation posted its strongest financial results since its founding, with premium earnings hitting a record high in 2025. Highlights of his tenure include expanding the organisation’s multi-peril coverage through the launch of sovereign flood insurance, establishing its Re-Takaful facility, speeding up the move to Abidjan, and reinforcing ARC’s standing as the continent’s leading disaster risk financing provider.
Cecilia Akintomide, Chairperson of ARC Ltd.’s Board of Directors, welcomed the appointment: “ARC’s ambition is clear: to help close Africa’s protection gap, reach more countries and communities, and make resilience a shared reality on the continent. Under David’s leadership, I am confident that ARC Ltd. will continue to scale innovative risk-financing solutions. It will also strengthen the continent’s resilience to climate-related, health and other catastrophic risks, and support Africa’s wider sustainable development agenda.”
Maslo said he was honoured to take the helm at a pivotal moment for the continent: “ARC has a vital role in helping African governments and their partners anticipate, finance and respond to disasters before they become humanitarian crises. I look forward to working closely with the African Union, our development and other partners, shareholders and the ARC team to deliver ARC’s mandate in support of African countries. At the same time, we will advance our transformation strategy, expand innovative risk-financing solutions and strengthen resilience across Africa.”
He added: “Our focus will be on building a stronger, more agile and more impactful ARC Ltd. We will deepen trust, expand access to protection, mobilise new partnerships and help ensure that African countries are better prepared for the risks of tomorrow.”
The appointment arrives as African nations confront mounting exposure to climate shocks, food security pressures, public health threats such as Ebola, and other catastrophic risks. Under Maslo’s leadership, ARC Ltd. aims to accelerate its transformation agenda, deepen its role as a trusted development partner, and expand access to insurance and risk-financing tools designed to safeguard lives, livelihoods and economic progress across the continent.