May 20, 2026

The African Tribune

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Passing of maurice digbeu kipré, pioneer of ivorian insurance sector

Maurice Digbeu Kipré, visionary founder and chief executive of Côte d’Ivoire’s leading insurer Serenity, passed away on Sunday, 17 May 2026 in Abidjan. He was 75.

After earning his credentials in Côte d’Ivoire and the United States, Kipré launched his professional journey in 1979 at American International Group (AIG).

By 1988, his expertise was recognized when he was appointed Director of Insurance within Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

In 1993, he took the helm at CICA-RE, steering the reinsurance giant until early 2008. Building on this experience, he established Serenity in November 2008, transforming it into a benchmark for excellence in the African insurance landscape.

Widely regarded as an icon of African insurance, Kipré held leadership roles across influential bodies, including the CIMA Regional Control Commission, the executive committee of the African Insurance Organisation (OAA), the executive bureau of the Federation of African National Insurance Companies (FANAF), and the board of the International Insurance Institute in Yaoundé.