ZFS Names Riddell and Wemmer to Executive Committee

Zurich Financial Services Group (ZFS) announced the appointment of Geoff Riddell (48) and Dieter Wemmer (47) to the Group Executive Committee effective immediately.

Riddell will continue to serve as CEO of Zurich’s Global Corporate Business, the position he has held since April 2. Wemmer has also been appointed CEO of Europe General Insurance, succeeding Axel Lehmann who was appointed CEO of Zurich North America Commercial earlier this year.

ZFS Europe General Insurance includes the U.K. Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland as well as Austria, Ireland and Portugal. The country heads in these markets will all report to Wemmer.

Commenting on the new members, CEO James J. Schiro stated: “These appointments are aligned with the organizational structure announced in April. I expect Geoff Riddell, as the leader of our Global Corporate Business, to capitalize on our position as a leading player in the market for large corporate customers. He will leverage our unique global servicing network reaching customers in more than 120 countries. Dieter Wemmer is responsible for our General Insurance activities in Europe, where we expect to achieve profitable growth through our strong distribution channels. He is also charged with completing the integration of our European units and delivering on a number of projects to improve operational excellence.”

Riddell joined Zurich in 2000, initially as Managing Director of Zurich Commercial in the UK. In 2002, he was appointed CEO of General Insurance in the UK, Ireland and Southern Africa.

Wemmer joined Zurich in Cologne in 1986. In 1996 he was seconded to the Corporate Center in Zurich where he held various senior executive positions in finance, controlling and mergers and acquisitions. In May 2003 he was appointed to Chief Operating Officer of Europe General Insurance.