AGCS gets new CFO in strategic swap with Allianz Group

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) has instated a new chief financial officer (CFO), appointing a senior executive from its parent entity  Allianz Group. The switch in leadership includes a key leader who has been instrumental in the “turnaround and transformation” of AGCS in the past few years.

As part of the changes, Claire-Marie Coste-Lepoutre (pictured right), the present CFO of AGCS, is set to assume the role of head of Allianz Group actuarial, planning and controlling and group chief actuary. Replacing her at AGCS is Oskar Buchauer (pictured left), who currently holds the position at Allianz Group that Coste-Lepoutre will be stepping into. Buchauer has been appointed to the AGCS SE board of management as CFO.

Both appointments will become effective on September 1, 2023, subject to regulatory approval.

In her new role, Coste-Lepoutre will be working closely with Allianz Group CFO Giulio Terzariol to lead and steer key strategic and financial functions across all Allianz Group divisions: property/casualty insurance (P&C), life/health insurance, and asset management.

Buchauer will become CFO at AGCS at a time when AGCS and Allianz OEs around the world move into a new chapter as Allianz Commercial, working in partnership to build a ‘powerhouse’ business in the Commercial P&C segment (Mid Corp, Large Corp and Specialty). He will take direct responsibility for finance on the board of AGCS SE, including accounting, treasury & tax, actuarial, compliance, finance solutions, global performance steering, and risk management.

Terzariol said: “Having worked closely with Claire-Marie for a number of years, I am now delighted to welcome her back to Allianz Group center where her combination of international experience and technical knowhow will be a great asset. Oskar has done an outstanding job in his current role, and I wish him continued success as CFO of AGCS.”

AGCS SE chief executive officer Joachim Mueller added: “Claire-Marie has been a big part of the turnaround and transformation of AGCS in the past few years and I want to thank her on behalf of everyone at AGCS for her exceptional contribution to all areas of the business. I know we all wish her the very best for the future! A warm welcome to Oskar as he joins AGCS at this exciting stage in our journey, realizing Allianz Commercial for the benefit of our customers.”

Coste-Lepoutre joined AGCS as CFO in 2019, since then she has been deeply involved in AGCS’s portfolio remediation and return to profitability under the 'New AGCS' strategy led by CEO Mueller, taking on the additional role of deputy CEO in early 2023. Prior to AGCS, from 2015 she was regional CFO of Allianz Benelux. Before that, she worked in Munich for the Allianz Group, leading the Group CFO office and then the business division for France, Benelux and Africa. A qualified actuary, she also spent seven years at McKinsey & Company, and five years at SCOR Reinsurance.

Buchauer has been head of Allianz Group actuarial, planning and controlling and chief actuary since 2018. He was chief actuary for Allianz Group since 2010, and prior to that, chief risk officer for Allianz Italy from 2005.

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