Zurich CEO Lewis shakes up top team

Zurich UK general insurance (UKGI) chief executive Stephen Lewis has made a number of changes to his executive team, Insurance Times can reveal.

The insurer has hired Aviva's former director of marketing and communications Kay Martin to become its new chief marketing officer and head of UKGI strategy effective from 1 June 2010.

The UKGI teams in marketing and communications and the shared-service government and industry affairs (GAIA) teams will also come under her remit.

John Dyke, becomes chief finance officer, replacing Scott Egan who was appointed group head of operations, planning and performance management in the Zurich HQ.

He returns to the UK following a spell as head of finance operations in Zurich North America and as head of planning and performance management for the group in Zurich before that.

Tony Emms has been appointed UK chief claims officer replacing Bill Paton who has become the chief claims officer for Zurich’s European Claims Organisation.

He moves from motor claims director, a position he has held sine 2005 and now has responsibility for the Zurich UK claims function. Emms is replaced by Karl Helgesen – who joined the Zurich finance function from Aviva in 2008.

Also in the claims leadership team, Anna Fleming becomes supply and services director, and Jon Cawley, currently property claims operations manager becomes property claims director.

UKGI chief executive Stephen Lewis said: “I’m delighted to have three more exceptional talents joining the UK General Insurance executive team. Kay has a successful track record in delivering major programmes across a range of different distribution channels.

"Her depth of knowledge and experience are going to be a real asset for the organisation and this appointment further demonstrates our commitment to be the best in the UK market. To recruit such senior roles from within our business always makes me proud and I’m pleased to bring the skills and experience of both Tony Emms and John Dyke into the UK top team.”