Hongler to Lead Zurich’s European Operations; Joins Management Board

Zurich Financial Services Group announced that Markus Hongler, currently CEO of Zurich Switzerland, has been appointed CEO of Zurich Insurance Ireland Limited (ZIIL), Zurich’s main EU-wide risk carrier for general insurance.

The appointment will become effective January 1, 2009, in order to allow a smooth transition to new leadership in Switzerland. Hongler has also been appointed to Zurich’s Group Management Board, effective immediately.

Hongler began his career with Zurich in Spain in 1983. He joined Zurich Switzerland in 1986 where he held a series of management and marketing positions. In 2001, he was appointed CEO of what is now Global Corporate in Europe. Since January 2006 he has been CEO of Zurich Switzerland. He will report to Annette Court, CEO of Europe General Insurance (EGI).

ZIIL is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with branches in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Zurich indicated that the subsidiary is in the process of evolving into the Group’s “primary pan-European legal entity. The ZIIL operating structure provides an efficient and effective pan-European platform through which to execute on EGI’s and Global Corporate’s strategies to deliver customized, comprehensive and competitive products, solutions and claims management services to Zurich’s personal and commercial customers in Europe.”

Source: Zurich – www.zurich.com