QBE restructures management in Spain

QBE European Operations has announced that, as a result of major growth, a decision has been taken to restructure the management of its Spanish branch.

The insurer said that as a result of considerable organic growth, driven by a number of large new business wins, the Spanish office will now be managed locally.

Constanza Gállegos de las Heras has been appointed general manager of the Spanish Branch of QBE Insurance (Europe) as of May 1, with additional responsibility for Portugal. She will take over from QBE’s Piero Asso, who is returning to Italy where he will continue to manage the company's Italian office.

Constanza joined QBE April 2007 as casualty manager, and was subsequently appointed underwriting manager of the Spanish branch.

Doron Grossman, managing director, QBE European Markets said: “Between them Piero and Constanza have done a great job in developing our Spanish business from a tiny operation into a business of considerable value, and with great promise for the future.

"In the last six months alone they have doubled the size of the business, and relationships with brokers continue to deepen. As a result, the time has come for QBE’s southern European operations to take a step up in size and prominence, and I look forward to much futher growth from both these businesses.”