A string of senior appointments have been announced this week across the insurance sector.
Allianz has reorganised its mobility and repair services under Dirk Vogler (pictured), who will become chief mobility officer and board member of Allianz Partners and take on the role of CEO of Solvd from January 2026. Vogler moves from Allianz Commercial, where he held board of management roles and led regional operating model transformation. The change brings Solvd, Allianz’s global claims and repair specialist, closer to Allianz Partners’ mobility capabilities as the group pursues its “Connected Platforms” strategy combining insurance expertise with AI and digital services.
Anne‑Sophie Grouchka, who has led Solvd Group, will step down from her executive role after nearly 14 years and will act as special adviser to a senior Allianz board member during the strategic transition. Sirma Boshnakova, Allianz SE board member responsible for insurance Western & Southern Europe and Allianz Partners, said the move strengthens collaboration between Solvd and Allianz Partners and supports the group’s platform approach.
Chubb has appointed John DePeters as executive vice president, head of commercial insurance and specialty for Chubb Overseas General Insurance (COG), effective January 1, 2026. DePeters will be based in London. In the role he will oversee growth and performance across Chubb’s middle‑market, small commercial and specialty portfolios globally, using package and multi‑line underwriting, portfolio management, analytics and technology to drive expansion and profitability.
Brian Church, division president, property & casualty at COG, said DePeters’s international experience and insurance expertise make him well suited to the role. DePeters joins Chubb after more than 13 years with the company, most recently as chief underwriting officer for North America small & lower midmarket, and has held several international underwriting leadership positions in Asia and North America.
BMS has appointed Charlie Emkes as director of commercial directors & officers (D&O) solutions, effective January 2026. Emkes will be based in London and report to Tom Spraggs, director and head of financial institutions - UK retail. The newly created role is intended to develop BMS’s commercial D&O strategy and lead new business development in coordination with other BMS and DR&P teams. Emkes joins from Lockton and has more than 12 years of London Market experience, having previously worked at Protean Risk and Gallagher. Spraggs said Emkes brings insurer and client relationships and industry knowledge that will help drive innovation and growth in commercial D&O for BMS.
Gallagher has appointed Tom Hughes as director of tax insurance in its EMEA Private Equity and M&A (PEMA) practice; he joins the UK team on January 5, 2026. Hughes joins from EY’s Corporate M&A tax group, where he worked on international tax and transaction services. A chartered accountant and tax specialist, he has experience across due diligence, acquisitions and disposals and tax structuring for private equity portfolios and mid‑market clients. Gallagher said the hire builds on recent specialist tax insurance team growth in Europe as the firm expands its capability to support transactional clients with tax risk solutions. Steve Jones, CEO of private equity & transactional risks in the UK, noted the market’s growth and the need for specialist technical advisers.
