Hannover, Germany: HDI Global, the Corporate and Specialty lines insurer and part of the Talanx Group, has appointed Sheena Williams as Global Head of Sport, Leisure and Entertainment, effective immediately. The appointment is designed to strengthen HDI Global's international underwriting proposition across the sport, leisure and entertainment sector, with a particular focus on expanding its entertainment offering, deepening its Sports Personal Accident expertise and pursuing targeted geographic growth. Williams brings seven years of experience at HDI Global alongside an extensive background spanning the full insurance distribution chain.
In her new role, Williams will connect specialist expertise, products and market relationships from across HDI Global's international office network, which covers more than 200 countries and territories. Key priorities include building out capabilities across the broader entertainment sector, including film, and expanding the breadth of the group's sport, leisure and entertainment proposition into additional markets where established capabilities can be deployed to serve clients and brokers. HDI Global generated approximately €10.3bn in gross insurance revenue in 2025 across its Corporate and Specialty Division, with more than 5,500 employees and around 5,400 Multinational Programmes in operation.
"There is strong potential to establish a leading international position in the Sport, Leisure and Entertainment market, building on the extensive expertise already available across HDI Global. Sheena Williams brings a wealth of industry expertise and strong market relationships. Her appointment solidifies our proposition, connecting our capabilities internationally and developing the business in areas where we see attractive and long-term opportunities," said Rafael Rebitzky, Global Head of Specialty Lines at HDI Global.
"Since I started my career in the insurance industry, I have seen just how important specialist knowledge, relationships, and a real understanding of clients' businesses and needs are. What excites me about this role is the opportunity to connect the expertise we already have across HDI Global and turn it into an even stronger international proposition. As the Partner in Transformation, we focus on our clients' needs and bring together the right expertise and capabilities to address them individually," said Sheena Williams, Global Head of Sport, Leisure and Entertainment at HDI Global.
Williams added: "Global does not mean taking exactly the same approach everywhere. Being a truly global player is about making effective use of our international presence, connecting local knowledge and specialist expertise, and bringing successful capabilities into additional markets where they can deliver value for clients and brokers."
For real estate investors and developers active in sport, leisure and entertainment assets, the strategic context of this appointment is directly relevant. Stadiums, arenas, mixed-use leisure destinations, resort hotels, film studios and entertainment-anchored retail schemes all require increasingly sophisticated specialist insurance coverage as risks grow in complexity and interconnectivity. HDI Global's move to establish a dedicated global leadership position in this sector signals growing institutional appetite for SLE-related underwriting, which in turn supports the financing and development of the very assets that Europe Real Estate's audience is building and investing in. A stronger, more internationally coordinated SLE insurer makes it easier for developers and investors to structure, finance and de-risk large-scale entertainment and leisure real estate projects across multiple jurisdictions.
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People and companies mentioned
People
- Sheena Williams, Global Head of Sport, Leisure and Entertainment, HDI Global
- Rafael Rebitzky, Global Head of Specialty Lines, HDI Global
Image: Sheena Williams
Companies
- HDI Global, Corporate and Specialty lines insurer; part of the Talanx Group; network covering more than 200 countries and territories; approximately €10.3bn gross insurance revenue in 2025; leads around 5,400 Multinational Programmes
- Talanx Group, parent group of HDI Global; listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the MDAX index; rated AA-/stable by Standard and Poor's and A+/stable by AM Best
