AIG establishes two new strategic leadership roles and eight new managing director positions

The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region of AIG has announced a series of new appointments following a restructure of its management team.

The restructure will mean the team will manage eight zones instead of 47 countries, and its headquarters will be consolidated in London. 

In addition, two new strategic leadership roles and eight new managing director positions have been created.

Nicolas Aubert, previously managing director of the UK and Israel, has been named chief operating officer of EMEA, reporting to Seraina Maag, president of AIG’s EMEA region.  In this capacity, he will focus on all aspects of the region’s client service delivery and transformation.

Anthony Baldwin, previously managing director, country operations Europe and distribution, has been appointed managing director and head of distribution, EMEA, reporting to Maag.  He will be responsible for market execution of the Region’s eight zones.  

The eight managing directors will lead market-facing activities and strategic execution across countries in the region’s eight zones, and report to Baldwin in his expanded role. 

The eight managing director appointments and their zones of responsibility are as follows:

Africa zone, led by Wayne Abraham (countries consist of: Kenya, South Africa, Uganda)

Central zone, led by George Williams (countries consist of: Austria, Germany, Switzerland)

East zone, led by Christos Adamantiadis (countries consist of: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine)

South zone, led by Marco Dalle Vacche (countries consist of: Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain)

Middle East North Africa (MENA) Zone, led by Michael Jensen (countries consist of: Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, UAE)

North zone, led by Juhani Talvia (countries consist of: Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden)

UK zone, led by Nicolas Aubert, interim Managing Director (countries consist of UK only)

West zone, led by Fabrice Domange (countries consist of: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands).

In addition, the region’s distribution organisation will be realigned to enhance focus on our customers and ease of doing business. 

The following EMEA region distribution appointments report to Baldwin: 

EMEA client, led by Dawn Miller, previously head of distribution, MEA and AGC

EMEA sales, led by Tom Doherty, previously head of channel management, EMEA

Emmanuel Brulé, previously commercial lines Leader for the EMEA region, has been appointed chief risk officer, EMEA.  His previous role has been eliminated

Mr. Brulé will be responsible for enterprise risk management functions across the eight zones. 

Finally, Michael Whitwell, president of Middle East and Africa for AIG Property Casualty, will leave the company effective 5 April 2014. 

Whitwell held a number of senior management positions over the course of his 30-year career at AIG, and served as a key driver of growth strategies in Arabia, Africa and India.

Maag said, “Many companies talk about putting the customer first.  I am excited by our new organisation that will truly allow us to focus on understanding our customers’ needs, be their risk expert and innovate solutions together.”