Edgar Puls to take over from Christian Hinsch at HDI Global

Christian Hinsch will step down from his role as CEO of HDI Global, the industrial lines insurer of Talanx group, after its AGM on 9 May and will be replaced by Edgar Puls. Mr Puls is currently in charge of HDI Global’s property, engineering, marine, multi-risk and European division. Talanx said the move completes a “generational renewal” at board level. Torsten Leue (52) succeeded Herbert Haas (64) last year as CEO of the group. Ulrich Wallin (64) steps down as CEO of the reinsurance arm Hannover Re after its AGM on 8 May. He will be succeeded by Jean-Jacques Henchoz (53). Mr Puls is 52. Mr Hinsch has been with the HDI group for 35 years. This includes 23 years at board level and 19 years as CEO of HDI Global and its predecessor companies. He has also been deputy chairman of the boards of management at Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G. Under his leadership, the number of staff working overseas for HDI Global and predecessor companies quadrupled from 380 to 1,568. The number of countries in which the HDI Group is active with its own branches and subsidiaries went from eight to 39. The premium volume generated internationally grew 12-fold from €250m to roughly €3bn. Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by Mr Hinsch during his career was the integration of the Gerling companies into the industrial lines division in 2006. The privately-owned, Cologne-based Gerling group had a very different culture to HDI. Mr Hinsch took much criticism in the German press about a supposedly heavyhanded and ruthless approach. But he dealt with this impressively and ultimately succeeded in the job, turning HDI into a truly international industrial insurance group. Mr Hinsch’s latest challenge has been to tackle the insurer’s unprofitable core fire book in Germany and elsewhere. The problems in this line were not unique to HDI, but it very publicly opted to rise to the challenge with its 20/20/20 strategy. The goal of this programme is to improve the premium/risk ratio by 20% in 20% of its industrial portfolio by the year 2020. The groups said that it is making good progress. The group also created a new global specialty insurer – HDI Global Specialty – by combining the specialty business of HDI Global and Hanover Re at the start of this year. Mr Puls was responsible for the 20/20/20 programme and will pass his job onto David Hullin. Mr Hullin has more than 24 years' experience in insurance and reinsurance with the Talanx Group. "The supervisory board is deeply indebted to Dr Hinsch for his outstanding work in the Talanx Group and in the area of industrial lines. The growth, increasing internationalisation and very good reputation of the HDI Group – including in the industrial sector – are closely linked to Dr Hinsch's name,” said Mr Haas. The outgoing chairman of Talanx’s supervisory board added: “In Dr Puls, a candidate who will further strengthen and expand the industrial lines division emerged from within our own ranks after an intensive selection process. The supervisory board wishes Dr Puls every success in his new assignment."

Edgar Puls to take over from Christian Hinsch at HDI Global

Want to read this article?

Read Next

Taiwan earthquake claims unlikely to cause capital event

Market softening could move towards rate cuts for downstream energy buyers

Q1 2024 records $20bn in nat cat losses: Gallagher Re

AM Best warns of insurers’ growing reserve risk

IFRIMA mourns the death of board member Jorge Luzzi

Taiwan earthquake claims unlikely to cause capital event

Market softening could move towards rate cuts for downstream energy buyers

Q1 2024 records $20bn in nat cat losses: Gallagher Re

AM Best warns of insurers’ growing reserve risk

IFRIMA mourns the death of board member Jorge Luzzi

Want to read this article?

Read Next

Taiwan earthquake claims unlikely to cause capital event

Market softening could move towards rate cuts for downstream energy buyers

Q1 2024 records $20bn in nat cat losses: Gallagher Re

AM Best warns of insurers’ growing reserve risk

IFRIMA mourns the death of board member Jorge Luzzi

Related Articles