AGCS
12 December 2023 Insurance

AGCS unveils new leadership as CEO steps away

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has unveiled a number of key leadership changes triggered by its CEO, which it credits for the turnaround of AGCS, stepping down to pursue other opportunities.

From January 1, 2024, Petros Papanikolaou, currently CEO of Central Europe for Allianz Group, will be appointed as the new CEO of AGCS. Papanikolaou will also assume leadership of Allianz Commercial, Allianz Group’s integrated global model for serving the Commercial Property & Casualty insurance segment (Mid Corporate, Large Corporate and Specialty customers).  

He will succeed Joachim Müller who, having led the turnaround of AGCS as well as the launch and setup of Allianz Commercial, has decided to pursue opportunities outside of Allianz upon the expiry of his contract and will step down as CEO from December 31, 2023.

Papanikolaou has been CEO of Central Europe since 2015, with responsibility for Allianz national businesses across 11 countries, prior to which he was CEO of Allianz Hellas from 2004 to 2015 and a General Manager in the Life, Sales and Property & Casualty business. 

Prior to joining Allianz in 1998, he served in a various financial management roles for AGF Kosmos and started his career as an auditor with EY.  

Chris Townsend, Member of the Allianz Board of Management, said: “With his broad international leadership experience across the P&C business, combined with his proven track record of execution, Petros Papanikolaou will be able to fully implement and drive our global integrated strategy for the benefit of Allianz Commercial customers and partners. 

Under his leadership, our Central Europe region is expected to reach €1 billion in operating profit as of this year, and Allianz has become one of the largest and most profitable insurance companies in the region. I want to thank Joe Müller for his service to Allianz, especially for the successful transformation of AGCS and the establishment of the new Allianz Commercial integrated model. I wish him every success in his next career step.”

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