Christian Vogel appointed CEO of Gulf Re

Gulf Reinsurance (Gulf Re) has appointed Christian Vogel as chief executive officer. Vogel, who now serves as chief underwriting officer at Gulf Re, takes over from Michael Gertsch who is stepping down to relocate to Switzerland. The new appointment is effective December 1 2013.

Focused solely on business opportunities emanating from the Gulf and MENA region, including high-value oil and gas, industrial, utility and transportation assets, Gulf Re writes a broad range of property and casualty lines of reinsurance, including energy, marine, engineered risks and property, on both a treaty and facultative reinsurance basis.

Equally owned by Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC) and Arch Capital Group, Gulf Re provides reinsurance support to a range of leading regional firms in the oil and gas, petrochemical, power and manufacturing sectors, as well as portfolio support to many of the region's largest insurers.

"Christian has been a fundamental component of Gulf Re's consolidation process in the GCC region and its expansion to the MENA region since he joined Gulf Re in December 2010 and was pivotal in establishing the underwriting platform under Michael's guidance" said Marc Grandisson Gulf Re chairman and chairman of Arch Worldwide Reinsurance Group. "He is well qualified to lead the company into the next stage of its development and we expect a smooth transition. Our view on Gulf Re's strategy and mission is unchanged and Christian is well equipped to carry on that vision."

Shafic Ali, Gulf Re vice chairman and GIC principal investments group head added: "Gulf Re is a key part of Gulf Investment Corporation's strategy to actively develop new business ventures that support the growth of the GCC economies. We are confident that Gulf Re has the right team and structure in place headed by the technically minded Christian Vogel to successfully pilot the company through its next phase of growth.”

Vogel said: "Clearly, the stability witnessed in the worldwide financial markets and in the GCC and the recent expansion to the MENA region will enable Gulf Re to consolidate itself as a well-respected and professional reinsurer in the market with its well diversified product offerings.”