AGCS appoints new head of Mediterranean and Africa

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has appointed Patrick Thiels as regional managing director for its Mediterranean and Africa unit, to replace Corinne Cipière who will move to Allianz France.

Ms Cipière has been appointed to the board of management at Allianz France as chief customer officer from 1 January 2021.

Mr Thiels will oversee the recently expanded Mediterranean and Africa region, which now covers France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy and the whole of Africa. He will be based in Antwerp and Paris. Mr Thiels joined AGCS in 2013 as regional CEO for its Mediterranean business.

Jeremy Sharpe will join AGCS next year to take over from Mr Thiels as head of AGCS’s global distribution unit. Mr Sharpe joins AGCS from AIG, where he was head of broker engagement – international in London.

Mr Thiels will keep his existing role until Mr Sharpe joins AGCS in March 2021.

The appointments are in line with new AGCS CEO Joachim Mueller’s ambitions to target growth sectors under the company’s ‘New AGCS’ strategy, which includes a new regional structure and investment in core functions.