VIG Re, the reinsurance company of Vienna Insurance Group, has announced that Cristina Ferrari will become the new Chief Underwriting Officer, while Catrina Gemmerich will become the new Managing Director of VIG Re’s German Branch.
VIG Re states that the changes to the leadership team come in accordance with the established succession plan and the execution of the firm’s Strategy 2025.
Catrina Gemmerich, who has been appointed as Managing Director of VIG Re’s German branch and Head of DACH & Nordics, succeeds Fabian Christoph, who will continue his career outside of VIG Group.
Gemmerich joins VIG Re from Munich Re, where she served for almost a decade in different underwriting and client management roles, most recently as a client manager heading the team for multinational insurance companies in Continental Europe.
Gemmerich commented on her appointment, stating, “I am thrilled to join VIG Re at a time when the company is aiming to capture the opportunities for profitable growth in the DACH and Nordics region.
“My commitment is to make this a success story for our business partners and for VIG Re in shaping the future of the industry. I am looking forward to be working in VIG Re’s dynamic and open culture, and to jointly drive the development of long-lasting relationships with clients and brokers.”
Johannes Martin Hartmann, VIG Re’s CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, added, “I am excited that we could convince Catrina as a top talent of the industry to join our team.
“With her experience in delivering bespoke client solutions and shaping strong market teams, VIG Re will further strengthen its market position in the region.
“I am very confident that Catrina and the team will succeed in capturing the growth opportunities by further enhancing the positioning of VIG Re as a reliable and solution orientated reinsurer, valuing long-term partnerships with its clients.”
Hartmann continued, “I sincerely thank Fabian for his commitment and service to the company over six years as branch manager, developing VIG Re’s presence and business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and recently also in the Nordics countries. I wish Fabian well for his future endeavours.”
The change is set to take effect from the 15th February 2023. Also during this year, the German branch office will be relocated from Frankfurt to Munich.
Meanwhile, Cristina Ferrari is positioned to become the Chief Underwriting Officer at VIG Re in March of 2023, taking over from Olaf Dietrich, who announced last year his intentions to retire from the reinsurance industry following three and a half decades of active service.
Ferrari holds almost twenty years of experience in P&C underwriting, claims’ handling, and clients’ relationship management, both in mature and emerging markets.
Before joining VIG Re, she worked thirteen years for Swiss Re in Zurich and Miami where she held various management positions.
Prior to that, she worked in Italy for Intesa Sanpaolo and Credemassicurazioni.
Ferrari commented on her appointment, stating, “I am very pleased to join VIG Re and to take on the CUO role. I feel honoured to be part of a company that lives the values of partnerships, solutions’ delivery, and performance excellence.
“Our industry keeps evolving; the pace of innovation and the development of the risk landscape are unprecedented. VIG Re is very well positioned to navigate these times of change, and I’m looking forward to contributing to its underwriting resilience and management of risks.”
Hartmann added, “I warmly welcome Cristina Ferrari. We are confident that Cristina’s strategic thinking, dedicated leadership and extensive underwriting experience will make a difference and bring the underwriting capabilities of the Company to the next level.
“On the behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to thank Olaf for his outstanding contribution to VIG Re’s success story during the past eight years.
“Olaf has been pivotal for the underwriting performance and the company culture at VIG Re. He played a crucial part in positioning VIG Re as a leading reinsurer in CEE and as a respected player in Continental Europe and East Asia.”
