Zurich Names Kerner, Talbot to Global Management Posts

Zurich Financial Services Group announced the appointment of Michael Kerner (41) as its new Global Chief Underwriting Officer for General Insurance and Mark Talbot (42) as Global Head of Group Reinsurance. Both men will take over their new posts with immediate effect.

Kerner succeeds Timothy Mitchell, who left Zurich earlier this month to join the UK’s Royal & SunAlliance (See IJ web site June 11). Along with his new post, Kerner will retain his current position as Head of Group Strategy, but will relinquish the position as Head of Group Reinsurance.

“As Zurich’s Global Chief Underwriting Officer, he is responsible for setting underwriting policy, overseeing the underwriting and actuarial pricing processes for General Insurance and leading The Zurich Way of Underwriting,” said the announcement. Kerner will report to John Amore, CEO General Insurance, and will be located in Zurich.

Kerner has previously served in a number of senior roles with the Zurich Financial Services Group and with Zurich North America Commercial since 1992. His background includes extensive experience in underwriting, actuarial, operations, finance and reinsurance.

Talbot, an Australian, will take over from Kerner as Global Head of Group Reinsurance. In his new position, he assumes responsibility for the management, development and implementation of Zurich’s global reinsurance policies and strategy on a worldwide basis. He will also report to Amore and will be based in Zurich.

Talbot was formerly Head of Reinsurance Management in Zurich. He joined Zurich in 2002 as Head of Ceded Reinsurance, and prior to that served in a variety of management roles for a global reinsurer in Singapore and Sydney.

Topics Underwriting Reinsurance