Allianz alternative risk transfer head departs after 15 years; successor named

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has appointed Paul Schiavone as global head of its alternative risk transfer (ART) business, taking over from Bill Guffey who is leaving after 15 years to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Schiavone was previously regional head of financial lines for AGCS North America. He will continue to be based in New York, taking the global lead for the company’s centre of competence for alternative risk transfer and non-traditional re/insurance. In addition to his new ART responsibilities, Schiavone will continue to oversee ‘long tail’ lines of business for AGCS North America as regional head of corporate (liability and financial lines).

Prior to joining AGCS in 2015, Schiavone was based in London as global chief underwriting officer for special lines, Zurich General Insurance. He has over 20 years’ leadership experience in the insurance industry, prior to which he trained as a lawyer, being admitted to the New York and New Jersey Bar in 1993.

Hartmut Mai, AGCS’s chief underwriting officer for corporate lines said: "I’d like to thank Bill for his many years at ART, culminating in his recent leadership of the team since he took over in 2014. He has contributed much to the growth of this important part of our business, and all at AGCS wish him well in the future.

"Paul Schiavone is ideally placed to succeed him, with his strong track record of strategic business development as well as extensive contacts and deep expertise across our industry. ART has been one of AGCS’ most successful lines of business and I look forward to working with Paul to develop this further in the future."

Laura Coppola, currently AGCS’s North American regional head of management liability commercial, will take over from Schiavone as regional head of financial lines, North America.

Schiavone commented: "Laura has been a major driver of the successful growth of our Financial Lines business in North America in recent years. She is well known to our clients and brokers across this market, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her as she takes the helm of our Financial Lines team."

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