Walser named as Swiss association head

GENEVA, Switzerland— The Swiss Insurance Association has named Erich Walser as its new chairman, replacing Albert Lauper, who served four years in the post.

Mr. Walser, the SIA's vice-chairman until his new appointment announced June 6 at the Zurich-based association's general meeting in Geneva, is chairman of Helvetia Group and chief executive officer of that St. Gallen, Switzerland-based insurer until he retires from that position at the end of August.

His successor as Helvetia's CEO, Stefan Loacker, was named to the SIA board.

In his final address as the group's chairman, Mr. Lauper told attendees at the general meeting that Switzerland's private insurance market is fundamentally healthy and should be confident about its future. "The public is growing increasingly aware that insurance is indispensable to the well-being of modern society. Not just in Switzerland but also in international circles," he said.