20 September 2004
Zurich Financial Services Group (Zurich) has appointed Stephen J.Leaman (57) Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Advice Network (ZAN), effective immediately. ZAN is the forerunner of the new directly authorized multi-tie retail distribution company Zurich intends to launch in the UK, to be operational in 2005. This appointment as well as the launch of the new company are subject to regulatory approval. The intention to create a new separate distribution company was announced on April 2, 2004. It is based on a new model for the Life business, which entails the separation of the manufacturing and distribution functions in the UK.
Paul van de Geijn, Chief Executive Officer of Zurich’s Life Insurance segment, comments; "Stephen’s appointment underpins our commitment to make the new distribution company a reality. I am delighted that he will be leading the way in our ambition to make this new business the preeminent distribution company in the UK after its planned launch in 2005."
Stephen J.Leaman is joining Zurich from an independent management services company, where he was President and Chief Executive Officer. Between 1997 and 2003, Stephen Leaman held several management positions within the Zurich Group in the United States, where his last position was as Executive Vice President, Farmers Property & Casualty operations.
Stephen J.Leaman holds a board membership position in a Research & Development start up company in the US and was also CEO of American Business Insurance (ABI), a large US national broker headquartered in San Francisco. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Engineering from United States Naval Academy of Annapolis, Maryland, as well as executive development certificates from Harvard, Kellogg and Michigan business schools.
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Notes to editors:
Zurich Financial Services is an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network that focuses its activities on its key markets in North America and Europe. Founded in 1872, Zurich is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich has offices in more than 50 countries and employs about 62,000 people.
For further information, please contact:
Zurich Financial Services
Media and Public Relations
8022 Zurich
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 1 625 21 00
Fax: +41 (0) 1 625 26 41
http://www.zurich.com
SWX Swiss Exchange/virt-x:ZURN
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