International insurance broker Howden has appointed Karl-Heinz Holz as new CEO of Howden Deutschland AG, taking over from Luigi Sturani, CEO of Europe, who has served as interim CEO of Germany in recent months.
In the new role, Holz will focus on further strengthening customer satisfaction and integrating the comprehensive service and product offering of the Group in Germany, working closely together with Howden’s Group Executive Committee as well as the local management team.
Holz has served as a member of the Board of EUROASSEKURANZ, Howden’s largest brand in the German market, for the last five years. He has also led EUROASSEKURANZ as CEO since 2021.
The new Howden Deutschland entity is created from what is currently EUROASSEKURANZ, which will form the future core of Howden’s operating activities in Germany.
Holz is joined by Kai Bockelmann (CEO of Himmelseher Sports Insurance), Marcel Braun (CEO of hendricks) and Axel Meyer (Managing Director of Howden Caninenberg), who together will form a leadership team under one Howden brand.
The firm suggests that the creation of Howden Deutschland is a major milestone, adding that, “This reshaped business, powered for growth, will significantly support Howden’s future ambitions for the region, foster cooperation across different product lines and strengthen the Group’s visibility and profile in the market.”
Luigi Sturani, CEO of Europe, Howden Broking, commented, “I am thrilled that Karl-Heinz has agreed to lead our strong and established operations in Germany as CEO.
“He embodies the virtues that make a great leader – deep knowledge of our business both from a client and product point of view, complemented by modern management skills across all operations.
“The new Howden Deutschland board perfectly represents Howden’s culture, combining the strength of a global broker with the personal touch of a group with employee ownership at its heart.
“We always put our people first, knowing that the clients will follow. I am absolutely convinced that, under the leadership of Karl-Heinz, Kai, Marcel and Axel, Howden Deutschland is perfectly positioned for future success.”
Holz added, “I feel very honoured and look forward to working together with Kai, Marcel and Axel as well as our great team in Germany to continue achieving the best results for our customers day by day.
“What sets us apart is our employees and the entrepreneurial spirit, which is a fundamental part of our DNA. The entrepreneurship is what allows our people to focus on the needs of our clients and offer them unique expertise.
“Our culture is the most valuable thing we own, and I will work hard to continuously strengthen it further.”
