Zurich Announces Personnel Changes, Names New Head of M&A and Group Strategy

Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) announced important personnel changes, signaling the ongoing strength of its management team and the institutional benefits of rotational assignments.

Source: Source: Zurich | Published on April 8, 2009

Effective June 1, Inga Beale (45) who currently serves as Head of Organizational Transformation and Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) will assume the position of Global Chief Underwriting Officer. She brings ample operational know-how to this critical global function, reflecting both her extensive knowledge of Zurich’s operations and businesses as well as her wide technical and underwriting experience, and broad leadership positions at previous employers. Ms. Beale will retain The Zurich Way leadership role and remain a member of the Group Management Board.

Mike Kerner (43) who currently serves as Global Chief Underwriting Officer and Head of Group Strategy will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global Corporate in North America, effective June 1. His effective leadership in establishing sophisticated pricing and risk selection methodologies position him particularly well to tackle the challenges of the US corporate business. The role had hitherto been held ad interim by Mario Vitale, CEO of Global Corporate since January 1, 2009.

With these changes, the Group is also taking the opportunity to reunite the Group Mergers & Acquisition and Group Strategy roles. Effective June 1, Christian Carl (37, French and Danish citizen) will be joining Zurich to lead these functions. He joins the Group from Goldman Sachs, where – as a leader within the investment banking division’s Financial Institutions Group since 2000 – he gained extensive advisory experience with Zurich since 2001. He has also previously worked with Merrill Lynch and Baring Brothers International, and holds degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Bristol.