People Moves: Ex-NewRe Executive Cussigh to Peak Re in Zurich; Key Changes at Euler Hermes; Daley Promoted at Sedgwick Australia

This wrap-up of international People Moves details recent appointments at Peak Re, the Hong Kong-based reinsurer; Euler Hermes, the Paris headquartered credit insurer, and Sedgwick, the provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Peak Reinsurance Co. Ltd., the Hong Kong-based global reinsurer, announced the appointment of former NewRe executive, Matteo Cussigh to the role of CEO for its wholly owned Swiss subsidiary Peak Reinsurance AG, and head of Marketing & Production, Europe, Peak Re.

At the same time, Peak Re announced the retirement of Jacques Burri, the former CEO of Peak Re AG and head of Marketing & Production in Europe, and Emmanuel Thommen, the former senior vice president at Peak Re AG. Peak Re said in a statement that Burri and Thommen were instrumental in the company’s European expansion and the setting up of its Swiss subsidiary.

Cussigh has more than 20 years in the industry and extensive experience in both traditional reinsurance and alternative risk solutions. Before joining Peak Re AG in 2020, Cussigh spent 10 years at NewRe, where his latest role was head of Origination & Analytics, Capital Partners. Previously, Cussigh worked for Aon and Swiss Re.

“We expanded to Europe in 2015 and was licensed to write P/C reinsurance business in 2016, marking our strong commitment to European markets,” commented Franz Josef Hahn, chief executive officer of Peak Re.

“With our team in Zurich, we increase proximity to our European-based clients, while our experts in Hong Kong provide underwriting and operational support,” he added. “This model helps us best deliver on our values of strong customer focus and fast claims settlement. Matteo will be responsible for the continued growth of Peak Re’s European portfolio and further strengthen our relationships with our clients in Europe.”

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Euler Hermes, the Paris-based trade credit insurer and subsidiary of Allianz, announced key changes in its board of management and regional management teams.

• Michele Pignotti, member of the group board of management in charge of Market Management, Commercial and Distribution, will be leaving the company on June 20, 2021 to pursue new challenges within Solunion in Spain. (Solunion is a Spanish and Latin America joint-venture between Euler Hermes and Mapfre). Pignotti joined Euler Hermes in 2004. In his roles as CEO for Italy, head of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Africa (MMEA) Region and group head of Market Management, Commercial and Distribution, he developed Euler Hermes’ brand franchise through a new customer service model and digital marketing.
• Anil Berry succeeds Pignotti as member of the group board of management in charge of Market Management, Commercial and Distribution, effective June 21. Berry joined Euler Hermes in 1997, holding risk underwriting, account management and broker distribution positions in the UK. He became CEO of the Gulf countries’ business, then head of Distribution in the APAC region before taking on the role of CEO of the Euler Hermes multinationals business.
• Frédéric Bizière, member of the group board of management in charge of Credit Intelligence and Reinsurance, will be leaving the company on June 20 to pursue new challenges within the Allianz Group. Over the past 23 years, he contributed significantly to Euler Hermes’ growth and success in his strategic roles within the group, where he held several board member positions in risk, finance, market management, commercial and distribution.
• Fabrice Desnos has been appointed member of the group board of management in charge of Credit Intelligence, Claims, Collection and Reinsurance, effective June 21. He joined the company in 1996, holding senior financial positions in the UK and France. He served as CEO for the UK & Ireland from 2008 to 2012, and as regional CEO for Asia Pacific from 2012 to 2016, before becoming the CEO of the Northern Europe Region in 2016.
• Milo Bogaerts will succeed Desnos as CEO of the Northern Europe Region, effective June 1.Bogaertsfirst joined Euler Hermes in 1998 as an account manager, a position he held until 2007. He then became the director for Interpolis Credit Insurance (a joint-venture between Euler Hermes and Interpolis). He re-joined Euler Hermes in 2012 as CEO for the Netherlands, then as Market Management, Commercial and Distribution director for Northern Europe. He has been CEO for Euler Hermes UK & Ireland since 2017.
• Holger Schäfer will succeed Anil Berry as CEO of Euler Hermes’ World Agency, effective July 1. Schäfer has more than 36 years’ experience in the Allianz Group. He has held various senior management positions, including global responsibility for sales and distribution in AGCS, based in Germanyand London. He then led AGCS Australia/New Zealand as CEO. He joined Euler Hermes as the head of the Asia Pacific Region in 2016.
• Paul Flanagan will succeed Holger Schäfer as CEO of the APAC Region, effective July 1.Flanaganjoined Euler Hermes 30 years ago, working at the time for Trade Indemnity Plc, in the finance team. In 1998, he took over both finance and operations, before becoming risk, information, claims and collections director in the UK. In 2007, he successfully led Euler Hermes Canada through the global financial crisis while maintaining market share and growth. In 2010, Flanaganbecame regional risk director for Northern Europe, and in 2016, CEO for Poland, where he restored profitability and growth.

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Sedgwick, a global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, announced the appointment of Kimberley Daley as head of its professional services division in Australia.

Daley joined Sedgwick in 2012 and is known within the industry as one of Australia’s foremost forensic accountants, said the company in a statement. Her expertise spans all commercial insurance classes: she advises clients on complex litigation matters as a financial loss expert and works closely with loss adjusters to drive successful outcomes on major losses. She has served as a key member of Sedgwick’s national leadership team in Australia for the past five years.

In her new role, Daley will oversee Sedgwick’s delivery of major and complex loss (MCL) adjusting, forensic advisory services, commercial property adjusting, construction and engineering, cyber liability and marine solutions to the Australian market.

Throughout her career, Daley has championed young professionals. She established a successful “Women in Motion” program to help up-and-coming female leaders at Sedgwick in Australia develop their business and management skills.

Topics Australia