CFO Querner departs Talanx by mutual consent on 'best of terms'

German re/insurer Talanx has appointed Jan Wicke as its new chief financial officer (CFO), succeeding Immo Querner who will leave the company on the "best of terms and by mutual agreement" at the end of August.

Querner has been the CFO of the company for more than 14 years. He became CFO of Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G. in 2006 after the takeover of the company by the Gerling Group. He steered the group through the financial crisis in 2008/2009 and took Talanx AG public in 2012. He is also credited for building up professional risk management operations, the Solvency II internal capital model, sustainable investment strategy, and most recently establishing Talanx AG as an internal Group reinsurer.

Jan Wicke, who will take over as CFO in September, has been responsible for the Talanx Group’s retail Germany division and its core HDI brand since the summer of 2014. He is said to have implemented a turnaround at the division, restored the life insurance business to profitability and expanded property insurance to SMEs. He also oversaw the company’s digital transformation process as head of IT. Wicke gained his financial expertise on the management board of Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG, where he was CFO and chief risk officer.

Wicke is succeeded by Christopher Lohmann as CEO of HDI Deutschland AG and as the member of Talanx AG’s board of management responsible for the retail Germany division. In addition, he will be the board’s chief information officer with responsibility for primary insurance in Germany. Most recently, Lohmann was CEO of Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG and a member of the management boards of Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG and Gothaer Finanzholding AG. Prior to that, he worked for Allianz for 18 years, as head of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s industrial lines business in Central and Eastern Europe (including Germany), Allianz Deutschland AG’s Munich sales office (including banking partnerships) and the Cologne branch’s retail business.

Herbert Haas, chairman of the supervisory boards of Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G, said: “Dr Immo Querner’s departure means our Group is losing an excellent financial expert, and I am very sorry to see him go. Dr Querner did an excellent job for more than 14 years and contributed significantly to our Group’s successful development. We are extremely grateful to him and wish him all the very best for the future, both personally and professionally. Immo Querner will continue to provide the Group with expert advice on a long-term basis as a consultant after he steps down from the Board of Management.”

Torsten Leue, chairman of Talanx AG’s board of management, added: “Immo Querner was a key driving force behind the Talanx Group’s successful development during his term of office, and repeatedly served as a trailblazer for crucial new ideas. He has my sincerest thanks.”

Querner commented: “Everything has its time. I can look back on the last 24 years – first at the Gerling Group and, following the takeover, here at Talanx – with a sense of accomplishment and a certain pride, but also with immense gratitude. In particular, I am grateful to everyone who supported me during this time: to the Company’s owners, creditors and Supervisory Board members who placed their confidence in me and to my colleagues and co-workers whose dedication, firm principles and expertise helped me with the many different challenges we faced. The decision to step aside after all these years was not an easy one. However, after this long period I want to contribute my expertise and experience outside the Talanx Group as well. I am looking forward to this, but I shall also continue to act as an adviser to the Group after my departure.”

Commenting on Wicke's appointment, Haas said: “I am very happy that we were able to appoint such a qualified financial expert as Dr Jan Wicke from within our own ranks to take over the CFO position. I wish him every success in his new role.”

Leue said: “I am very pleased that Christopher Lohmann sees the Talanx Group as his new professional home and wish him every success in his new role. Our Board of Management team will benefit from his exceptional knowledge, his contacts on the German market, and his excellent leadership skills.”