Talanx veteran who played prominent role in shaping German insurance industry passes away

Talanx Group's long-time chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of the supervisory board Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl (pictured) passed away last week at the age of 78.

Baumgartl served as chairman of the board of management of HDI V.a.G. from 1993 to 2006 and CEO of Talanx AG from 2000 to 2006. In 2006, he became chairman of the supervisory boards of HDI V.a.G. and Talanx AG until stepping down in 2018. He was also a member of the supervisory board of Hannover Rück SE from 1993 onwards, which he chaired until 2009. He had previously served as CEO of AMB Aachener und Münchener Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft until 1993.

Baumgartl led HDI Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit with courage and foresight through its evolution from a mid-sized player into an international insurance group, the company said in a statement.

He oversaw the expansion of HDI Global SE into a leading industrial insurer, the development of our international retail business by HDI International AG, the acquisition of the Gerling Group in 2006 and the going public of both Talanx AG in 2012 and Hannover Rück SE in 1994.

Herbert Haas, the current chairman of the supervisory boards of Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G., praised Wolf-Dieter Baumgartl for his prominent role in shaping the German insurance industry. "Long-term, forward-looking action, the courage to take on challenging risks, creativity combined with robust assertiveness, as well as a keen intellect coupled with a very straightforward and human manner – these were the qualities that set him apart. He will be deeply missed," he said.

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