Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • May 2012
05

Obituary: Paul Johansen

Open-access content 9th May 2012

Pioneering Danish actuary Paul Johansen passed away on 5 January 2012, aged 101.


09 MAY 2012 | Appreciation by Hans Bühlmann (Switzerland), Colin Czapiewski (UK),
Mette Havning and Søren Johansen (Denmark)

Paul Johansen

Born in Copenhagen on 28 May 1910, Paul Johansen started his mathematical and actuarial studies in 1928.

In 1932, he was awarded the University of Copenhagen Gold Medal, earning his doctorate in 1941.

As well as his academic endeavours, Johansen started work in 1934 as assistant actuary at Nye Danske. He was initially a life actuary, but he soon became interested in risks relating to fire reinsurance.

He remained with the company (under its new names) for the whole of his working life and was its first non-life actuary. He was chief executive officer from 1973 until 1977.

Johansen became a central figure in the Nordic Tariff Organization of Actuaries (NTA). He also served on the ASTIN committee for 23 years, initially as its first chairman and later as a member and delegate of the International Actuarial Association (IAA), previously Comité Permanent des Congrès d'Actuaires.

Johansen was the most influential leader of the Danish Society of Actuaries in the 20th century (twice chairman and later honorary member).

His achievements have been honoured by actuarial organisations in many countries. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1957, where he is remembered for his definition of the difference between life and non-life actuaries: "You only die once - and totally!".

He was also a corresponding member of the actuarial associations of France, Belgium and Switzerland. During Johansen's lifetime, actuarial organisations have undergone many changes.

Strong personalities were essential in such pioneering times and we must thank our esteemed colleague for his enormous engagement, for his courage and for his foresighted leadership.

This article appeared in our May 2012 issue of The Actuary.
Click here to view this issue
Filed in:
05
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Actuarial Analyst - Pensions to Life

London (Central)
study support, package
Reference
119042

Reinsurance Technician

London (Central)
Negotiable
Reference
119041

Pricing Actuary/Analyst (Casualty)

London, England
£60000 - £80000 per annum
Reference
119040
See all jobs »
 
 
 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2020 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited, Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL. Tel: 020 7880 6200