The UK arm of global insurer Zurich has announced the appointment of Drazen Jaksic as CEO of Zurich UK, succeeding Tim Bailey, who has served as CEO, Zurich UK since January 1, 2021.
Alison Martin, CEO EMEA & Bank Distribution, said, “We are delighted to have a leader of Drazen’s calibre at the helm of Zurich UK, one of Zurich’s key markets. Drazen has made a significant impact since joining Zurich, and we look forward to seeing him continue this success at Zurich UK.”
Jaksic joined Zurich in 2019 as Head of Accident & Health, Global, and most recently served as CEO of Zurich Benelux.
Prior to that, he served as SVP Accident & Health EMEA and CEO Ace Europe Life Limited at Chubb. He has also held senior roles at Combined Insurance, SBS Insurance Services Limited, Assurant Solutions, and Prudential.
Commenting on his new role, Jaksic said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to continue to advance our position in the UK market. I can’t wait to get started, it’s clearly a very talented leadership team and a strong business unit. I see huge opportunities for us in the market and I feel privileged to play a role in driving our future success.”
Bailey will now transition to the role of CEO Life Protection at Zurich, reporting to Cara Morton, CEO of Zurich Global Ventures.
Bailey brings extensive experience to this new role, having spent 16 years at Zurich in key leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer, EMEA and CEO Life & Investments and Country Head, Zurich Australia.
Bailey said, “Life insurance has played a pivotal role in my career. The opportunity to build and lead a new global business and establish Zurich as a world leader in this space is exciting. Over the last four years, Zurich UK has grown significantly and strengthened its market position. I have been fortunate to lead an outstanding team which I’m leaving in Drazen’s excellent hands. He has everything the business needs to continue to drive it forward.”
