Zurich Insurance Group announced that Kristof Terryn, currently CEO of Global Life, will take over as CEO of General Insurance, effective October 1, 2015. He replaces Mike Kerner, who is stepping down for personal reasons and will be leaving the company at the end of this year. Kristof Terryn will continue to run the Global Life business until a replacement is announced.

Kristof Terryn has been CEO of Global Life since August 2013, and a member of Zurich’s Group Executive Committee since his appointment to his previous position as Group Head of Operations in 2010. He has held a number of senior executive positions, including COO for the General Insurance business and, before that, COO of Global Corporate. Prior to joining Zurich in 2004, he had a successful career in the financial services industry, initially in banking where he worked in capital markets, and later with McKinsey & Company’s financial services practice in Brussels and Chicago.

“Kristof Terryn has an impressive track-record as a leader. Under his management, our Group Operations team delivered significant improvements and efficiencies and, as our recent results demonstrate, Global Life continues to execute against its strategy and meet its targets. We are very fortunate to have somebody with his expertise, deep industry knowledge and senior leadership experience to take over General Insurance,” said Martin Senn, Zurich’s Chief Executive Officer.

“I would like to thank Mike Kerner for his dedication and service to Zurich over the past 23 years. He has served this company well in a number of important senior roles and will be widely missed. I respect his decision to spend more time with his family and wish him all the best for the future,” Senn stated.

Terryn's background

Kristof Terryn began his career in 1993 in the banking industry, where he worked in capital markets. In 1997, he joined McKinsey & Company where he held various positions within the financial services practice in Brussels and Chicago. He joined Zurich in 2004 as Head of Planning and Performance Management. In 2007, he became COO for the Global Corporate business division and in 2009 was named COO for General Insurance. Mr. Terryn became a member of the Group Executive Committee in 2010 on his appointment as Group Head of Operations. He assumed his current role as CEO Global Life in August 2013.

Terryn holds a law degree and a degree in economics from the University of Leuven, Belgium, as well as an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Special Reports /

Zurich appoints Kristof Terryn as CEO of General Insurance, replacing Mike Kerner

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