Allianz announces new UK commercial leader after Cote departure

Allianz has appointed Phuong Ly as its new commercial managing director for the UK.

Ly will lead all of insurer’s commercial business in the UK, spanning digital, mid-market and large-corporate, as well as the engineering inspection, legal protection and fleet business.

His appointment comes after former UK commercial managing director Nadia Cote decided to depart the insurer for RSA.

He is set to take up his new role on 3 April 2025. Until then, Nick Hobbs and Luke Baker will continue to provide interim leadership for the Allianz Commercial UK business.

When Ly joins, he will report to Colm Holmes, chief executive at Allianz UK, and Dirk Vogler, international chief regions officer at Allianz Commercial.

Holmes said: “Under his leadership, our commercial teams will keep building the trusted relationships and local know-how that our brokers and clients value, while providing global support and expertise.”

Experience

Ly has more than 20 years’ experience of corporate insurance in executive roles across distribution and underwriting.

He joined Allianz Australia in his current role as chief general manager of the commercial division in 2021, leading all the commercial segments across SME, mid-market, fleet and commercial motor and large-corp.

Before Allianz, he was the Australian chief underwriting officer at QBE, a role he held for nearly two years.

Vogler said: “Drawing on his existing experience managing the Australia region, I know he will play a key role bringing our commercial model in the UK market to the next level, unleashing our full potential in targeting new business opportunities and providing solutions to our customers across the full commercial segment.”