Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE appointed a number of new North America executive and simplified its organizational structure as part of its ongoing “New AGCS” transformation program. AXIS Insurance has brought on three experienced underwriters to its U.S. Cyber and Technology team.

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Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE made a number of new appointments and simplified its organizational structure in North America as part of its ongoing “New AGCS” transformation program.

• Max Nussbaumer has been appointed SVP Operations North America, overseeing all North American chief operating officer (COO) areas and reporting directly to AGCS COO Bettina Dietsche. In this new role, Nussbaumer will be responsible for implementing global COO priorities in the region while also addressing regional needs. He will first focus on digitalization across North America and compatibility with AGCS’s global IT model. Since 2010, Nussbaumer served as Managing Partner and Founder of his own management consultancy firm, focused primarily on the financial services industry, digital innovation and compliance management projects both in the U.S. and Europe. Based in Chicago, he previously worked for various Allianz companies as a consultant.

• Joe Caruso will be promoted to Regional Head of Financial Lines. Caruso, who was formerly Regional Head of Financial Institutions, will transition into this role as of Sept. 1 and will continue to develop AGCS’s portfolio both in the U.S. and Canada, which includes Cyber, Directors & Officers and Professional Indemnity products and solutions.

• Paul Schiavone, formerly Regional Head of Financial Lines, has been promoted to a newly created global role – Global Industry Solution Director for Financial Institutions. He will be responsible for driving products and services, as well as expertise across all lines of business for clients in this target sector.

• Rani Christie, who has served as Head of Sales and South & Northeast Zone Executive, is taking on the newly created role of Regional Head of Distribution. In addition to AGCS business development efforts, Christie will also be responsible for marketing and sales operations to ensure broker and client needs align with global distribution. As well, he will continue to support the AGCS strategy to drive a high-performing culture through various sales academy initiatives.

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AXIS Insurance has brought on three experienced underwriters to its U.S. Cyber and Technology team.

Peter Smith will join AXIS as Underwriting Manager, U.S. Cyber and Technology, and Emma Werth and Jessica Currier will join as Senior Underwriters.

Smith will specialize in middle market underwriting and strategic development across Cyber and Technology Errors & Omissions (E&O), focusing on analyzing, reviewing and monitoring new and renewal accounts of all programs. He has more than 12 years’ specialty insurance experience and joins AXIS from Swiss Re, where he was a Vice President and Senior Underwriter in Cyber and Technology E&O. Before that, he was a Senior Underwriter for Specialty E&O at Zurich North America, and Claims Assistant Vice President at Marsh & McClennan, where he focused on Property and Casualty and E&O.

Werth will focus on Cyber and Technology underwriting, having spent the previous two years underwriting Cyber and Technology at NAS Insurance Services and later Tokio Marine HHC following its acquisition of NAS. Previously, she worked at Zurich North America as an Associate Underwriter for middle market property and casualty with an emphasis on large business casualty.

Currier joins AXIS from Hiscox and will focus on Media E&O. She brings experience from both the carrier and broker perspectives, having started her career at Risk Strategies on its Entertainment business with a focus on Film & TV and Broadway shows. She then joined Hiscox as a Senior Underwriter, handling Media for regional and large program accounts.

Sources: Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, AXIS Insurance