Passing of maurice digbeu kipré, serene insurance pioneer

Maurice Digbeu Kipré, visionary founder and CEO of Serenity, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s leading insurance firms, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Abidjan. He was 75 years old.

With a solid academic foundation earned in Côte d’Ivoire and the United States, Kipré launched his professional journey in 1979 at American International Group (AIG), where he honed his expertise in the insurance sector.

By 1988, his leadership was recognized at the national level when he was appointed Director of Insurance within Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, guiding key policy decisions that shaped the country’s insurance landscape.

In 1993, Kipré took the helm of CICA-RE, a regional reinsurance company he led until early 2008. Building on this experience, he founded Serenity later that same year, a move that marked a turning point in the industry. Under his guidance, Serenity grew into a trusted name in African insurance, known for innovation and reliability.

Beyond his corporate roles, Kipré was a towering figure in regional insurance governance. He served on the board of the CIMA Regional Control Commission, held leadership roles in the African Insurance Organization (AIO), and contributed to the Federation of National Insurance Companies of Africa (FANAF). His influence also extended to the Yaoundé International Insurance Institute (III), where he played a pivotal advisory role.