HISTORY
The concept of developing and implementing specialist insurance solutions for the sports industry goes back to the founder of our company, Erwin Himmelseher. Today, Erwin Himmelseher is widely regarded as the pioneer of sports insurance.
In the 1950’s, after several years working in insurance, the retired, highly successful athlete Erwin Himmelseher, founded his own company; Himmelseher Sportversicherungen (HiSV). He was able to demonstrate to his clients the clear need for comprehensive and tailored insurance in sport. As well as showing a modern approach to risk, he secured insurers that understood the specific needs of sporting clients.
Before long, it was clear that this approach was relevant to an international audience.
In the late 1970s, Erwin Himmelseher’s son, Dr Volker Himmelseher, joined the company. Under his leadership the business progressed rapidly. The core client base of national athletic associations grew steadily along with worldwide business expansion.
In 2008, with the aim of further expansion and setting longer term goals, HiSV acquired a new shareholder: Caninenberg & Schouten GmbH. Caninenberg & Schouten GmbH (today Howden Caninenberg GmbH) shared similar values as an insurance broker and also specialised in the sports industry.
Management was also strengthened by the addition of Dr Peter Caninenberg, himself a 143-capped, German national hockey player.
The latest step in the development of HiSV was in 2014 when HiSV became part of the Howden Broking Group. Howden, headquartered in London, and present in 30 countries, has the largest reach, across its own offices of any independent broking group in the world.
This gives HiSV access to a global network of talent and the wider insurance market thereby maximising the service we can offer our clients.