Zurich replaces group chief risk officer with Swiss Re hire

Zurich Insurance Group has hired Swiss Re executive Alison Martin to assume the role of group chief risk officer in January 2018.

Martin will succeed Cecilia Reyes, Zurich’s current group chief risk officer, who is set to retire from the company in the first quarter of 2018.

Martin joins Zurich from Swiss Re, where she was head of life and health business management, a role she has held for four years. In her 14 years at Swiss Re, Martin has held a series of senior management positions focused on transformation, commercial business and value creation, including as head of the life and health products division and as CFO of Swiss Re life and health. She has previously spent eight years in audit and advisory roles at PwC, with a focus on insurance.

Martin will join Zurich’s executive committee on October 1, 2017 as group chief risk officer-designate, and will work closely with Reyes during the transition period.

Mario Greco, group chief executive officer, said: "Alison represents an impressive blend of business results orientation, financial expertise and people skills. She’s demonstrated that she can grow businesses based on a deep understanding of market dynamics, risk balancing and capital management, and is precisely the type of high-energy executive we were seeking to build on Cecilia’s accomplishments. I look forward to welcoming her to our Executive Committee."

"In her over 16 years with Zurich, Cecilia has made a significant contribution in senior risk, finance and investment roles," Greco added. "In her current position she has successfully managed risks across the Group and, by doing so, has created real opportunities for Zurich to flourish. On behalf of the Board, the Executive Committee and all Zurich employees, I applaud Cecilia for the positive impact she has made on Zurich, and thank her for her commitment to ensuring a smooth transition."

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