Zurich Names New North America Chief, Launches Digital Unit

BI - September 2, 2020 - Zurich Insurance Group on Wednesday announced new leadership for its North America operations and other management changes as it launched a digital services platform.

Kathleen Savio, who was named CEO of North America in 2017, will take on the newly created role of group chief transformation officer effective Jan. 1, 2021, Zurich said in a statement.

She will be succeeded in North America by Kristof Terryn, who is currently group chief operating officer in Zurich. Mr. Terryn joined Zurich’s finance department in 2004 and has held various executive positions at the insurer.

The Swiss insurer also announced the formation of a global business platforms unit, which will be headed by current Asia Pacific CEO Jack Howell starting Jan. 1, 2021.

The unit will “expand digital services worldwide and create a more intimate connection with its customers and partners,” the statement said.

Ericson Chan, CEO of Ping An Technology, a unit of Ping An Insurance Company of China Ltd., will join Zurich on Oct. 1 as group chief information and digital officer and will lead the planning, development and operation of the insurer’s technology functions and other online efforts.

Zurich also named CEOs for Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.

Tulsi Naidu, who has headed Zurich’s operations in the United Kingdom since 2016, will succeed Mr. Howell CEO Asia Pacific.

Laurence Maurice was named CEO Latin America. She joins Zurich from Allianz Partners, where she was CEO Spain and southern Europe for the Allianz SE unit. She succeeds Claudia Dill who is stepping down for personal reasons, the statement said.

Zurich also named Katja Roth Pellanda as group general counsel, effective Oct. 1, 2020. She succeeds Yannick Hausmann, who will become a senior adviser to Group CEO Mario Greco, the statement said.