Allianz targets Asian growth market with top AIG hire

Allianz has hired a new commercial leader from AIG for its major growth market - Asia, where the insurer is targeting “significant opportunities” across the full commercial segment. The senior executive will oversee operations in key countries including China (including Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

Christian Sandric (pictured) will join Allianz Commercial from AIG as commercial managing director Asia, based in Singapore, with effect from September 1. His appointment is subject to regulatory approval.

Mark Mitchell, the current regional managing director for Asia for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS), will continue in his role until Sandric joins, before stepping down to pursue opportunities outside Allianz Group.

Allianz Commercial Asia serves clients across key markets such as China (including Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

In Asia, Allianz said it is targeting significant growth opportunities across the full Commercial segment which entails mid-sized companies, large multinational corporations and specialty business leveraging its extensive geographical network, enhanced digital capabilities and strong product and services portfolio which includes multinational and risk consulting, as well as global industry and alternative risk transfer solutions.

Sandric is currently president and CEO of AIG Singapore, and regional manager for Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam with overall management responsibility for AIG’s General Insurance business in those territories.

In his 24-year career with AIG, he held a series of leadership positions with increasing responsibility across the US, Australia, Europe and Asia. Prior to moving to Singapore, he spent nine years working with AIG Japan in addition to other Asia based roles in both Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Sandric’s appointment comes on the heels of other leadership roles for other key commercial markets globally such as Australia, France, Germany, the UK, and in Iberia and Latin America. In each region, the appointed single commercial managing director represents the integrated Allianz Commercial business.

Earlier in March, Allianz announced that it will serve the global commercial insurance segment as one go-to-market business, using the new trading name of Allianz Commercial, combining its AGCS business serving large corporate and specialty clients together with the insurance businesses of Allianz’s operating entities serving mid-sized country-based accounts. Joachim Mueller will lead Allianz Commercial as part of his responsibilities as CEO of AGCS SE.

Mueller said: “I am pleased to welcome Christian to Allianz Commercial and I know that his excellent knowledge and network across all major Asian markets will help us drive our business forward in this important growth region. I particularly want to thank Mark Mitchell for his very strong contribution to AGCS’s development in Asia Pacific. He and his team have built up this business with great professionalism, establishing the foundations on which Allianz Commercial can grow profitably in Asia. On behalf of all at AGCS, I wish him all the best for the future.”

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