Zurich makes EMEA leadership changes
Posted On: Apr. 5, 2018 10:51 AM CST
Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. said Thursday that Gary Shaughnessy will step down as CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa and as a member of Zurich’s executive committee in the fourth quarter of this year.
Mr. Shaughnessy is stepping down from a full-time role to devote more time to health, work, family and personal commitments following his diagnosis several years ago with Parkinson’s disease, Zurich said in a statement.
Amanda Blanc, who joins Zurich from French insurer Axa S.A., will succeed Mr. Shaughnessy as CEO of EMEA and as a member of the executive committee.
Mr. Shaughnessy will continue to serve as a member of various European subsidiary boards, Zurich said, including with Zurich Insurance P.L.C., as chair of the Z Zurich Foundation and other Zurich board memberships, and as a strategic advisor to Zurich. He was appointed CEO of EMEA in July 2016, after joining the executive committee in January 2016 as CEO of Global Life. He joined Zurich in 2012 as the CEO of Zurich UK Life.
Ms. Blanc was appointed group chief executive of Axa U.K. and Ireland in July 2016 and had been CEO, Axa U.K. and Ireland general insurance since January of that year. She joined the board of Axa U.K. and Ireland in 2011 when she was appointed CEO of Axa insurance commercial lines. She also sat on Axa’s global property/casualty board and led Axa’s global SME initiative.
Ms. Blanc is a member of the board of the London-based Association of British Insurers, currently chairs the nonprofit Insurance Fraud Bureau and was president of the Chartered Insurance Institute in London.