Insurance broker Aon plc announced a new leadership and governance structure for its Reinsurance Solutions business in Germany, effective October 1, 2026.
Under the new structure, Phillip Esser has been appointed CEO of Reinsurance Solutions in Germany for Aon, based in Hamburg. Esser brings extensive reinsurance experience, strong client relationships and deep knowledge of the market to the role. He will build on the strong foundations of Aon’s business in Germany and lead its next phase of development, with a continued focus on client value, growth and collaboration across the firm’s integrated capabilities.
Volker Wahl will become executive chairman of Reinsurance Solutions in Germany for Aon, bringing 36 years of reinsurance industry experience, including almost 25 years at Aon, together with deep market expertise and senior leadership support as the business enters its next phase. In his new role, Wahl will work closely with Esser and the firm’s management team in Germany to strengthen client relationships, support talent development and help accelerate growth across the business.
Aon said these appointments strengthen the broker’s continuity across its reinsurance business in Germany while preserving clear access to local expertise, specialist teams and the breadth of the firm’s global capabilities. The new structure is designed to bring together Aon’s treaty, facultative, analytics and advisory capabilities through a more coordinated and streamlined operating model, helping clients access integrated expertise across their evolving needs.
These enhancements are part of a planned succession process following Aon’s previously communicated retirement plan for Jan-Oliver Thofern, who will retire from the firm on Jan. 1, 2027. Thofern, who has contributed more than 30 years to Aon, will support the business through the remainder of 2026 as adviser to Esser.
As part of this evolution, Aon will establish a Board of Reinsurance for Germany, further strengthening the governance and leadership structure of the business. Phillip Esser, Tomas Novotny, Alexander Partmann, Arno Achterberg, Andreas Froehlich, Stephan Schuetzeck and Volker Wahl are appointed to the board, bringing together senior leadership experience and complementary expertise to support the long-term development of the business in Germany.
“Jan-Oliver has made an outstanding contribution to Aon over more than three decades and played a central role in establishing our firm as a leading reinsurance platform in Germany,” said Tomas Novotny, chairman International and CEO of EMEA, Reinsurance Solutions, Aon.
“This transition reflects the strength of our internal talent and demonstrates the depth of leadership we have built within our business. Phillip brings deep market expertise, strong client relationships and proven leadership capabilities which will help guide the business through its next phase,” Novotny added.
“Meanwhile Volker will add valuable strategic oversight and senior market experience. With the new Board of Reinsurance for Germany, this leadership model gives us the depth, continuity and governance needed to support clients over the long term.”
Topics Leadership Reinsurance Aon Germany
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