Zurich Insurance Group is launching a new unit to expand digital services platform worldwide. The company has also appointed several new chief executive officers for key regions.
The new Global Business Platforms unit will be headed by current Asia Pacific CEO Jack Howell as of Jan. 1, 2021. Over the last four years, Howell has expanded the business in APAC, establishing positions in key markets.
Ericson Chan will spearhead the planning, development and operation of the technology functions and online ecosystems as the newly appointed group chief information and digital officer. Chan joins Zurich on Oct. 1, 2020, as a member of the Group Executive Committee. His remit will also include responsibility for all of Zurich’s IT operations and services.
Chan is currently CEO of Ping An Technology. During his four years as CEO of Ping An Technology, Chan helped to transform the business model and online ecosystems through digital services including a range of financial products and platforms. Between 1998 and 2016, Chan held several technology leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.
To support the execution of a successful group-wide transformation, Zurich is appointing Kathleen Savio, currently CEO North America, to the newly created role of group chief transformation officer, effective Jan. 1, 2021. Savio will be responsible for accelerating business organization and governance, further developing the cultural transformation across Zurich.
In addition, Zurich has appointed Katja Roth Pellanda as new group general counsel to lead the legal team, effective Oct. 1, 2020. Roth Pellanda joined Zurich from Novartis as deputy group general counsel in April. She succeeds Yannick Hausmann, who after 12 years in the role has decided to transition to new professional activities. He has accepted to remain engaged with the company as a senior advisor to the group CEO.
Regional CEOs
Zurich also announced changes in its regional leadership. New CEOs have been appointed in Latin America effective Oct. 1, 2020, and in the North America and APAC regions, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Kristof Terryn will succeed Savio as CEO North America. He joined the group in 2004 and became group chief operating officer in 2016 following roles including head of global Life and General Insurance. Prior to joining Zurich, Terryn was based in the U.S. for eight years.
Tulsi Naidu will take over as CEO APAC. She has been Zurich’s CEO in the UK since 2016. As UK CEO, Naidu has improved technical and digital capabilities and strengthened the team.
Laurence Maurice joins Zurich as CEO LatAm. Maurice has experience in the industry, including seven years as chief financial officer of Allianz Partners’ Brazilian and South American operations and most recently as the company’s CEO Spain and Southern Europe. Maurice succeeds Claudia Dill, who for personal reasons has decided to step down from the role and will be leaving the company.
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