CFO Dr Immo Querner to hand over to Dr Jan Wicke

“Dr Immo Querner’s departure means our Group is losing an excellent financial expert, and I am very sorry to see him go. Dr Querner did an excellent job for more than 14 years and contributed significantly to our Group’s successful development. We are extremely grateful to him and wish him all the very best for the future, both personally and professionally. Immo Querner will continue to provide the Group with expert advice on a long-term basis as a consultant after he steps down from the Board of Management”, said Herbert Haas, chairman of the supervisory boards of Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G.

Torsten Leue, Chairman of Talanx AG’s Board of Management, added: “Immo Querner was a key driving force behind the Talanx Group’s successful development during his term of office, and repeatedly served as a trailblazer for crucial new ideas. He has my sincerest thanks.”

Successful navigation through financial crisis and IPO

Dr Immo Querner was 39 when he was appointed CFO of the Gerling Group. Following its stabilisation and Gerling’s takeover by the Talanx Group, he became CFO of Talanx AG and HDI V.a.G. in 2006. He steered the Group highly successfully through the financial crisis in 2008/2009 and took Talanx AG public in 2012. During his term of office he built up professional risk management operations, successfully developed the Solvency II internal capital model, was responsible for instituting a sustainable investment strategy including the systematic expansion of infrastructure investments, and most recently established Talanx AG as an internal Group reinsurer. Immo Querner’s exceptional professional expertise, creativity and reliability meant he was highly valued as a colleague, and by investors and analysts. Among other things, he has headed the Audit and Compliance Committee on Deutsche Bahn AG’s Supervisory Board since March 2020.

Dr Immo Querner: “Everything has its time. I can look back on the last 24 years – first at the Gerling Group and, following the takeover, here at Talanx – with a sense of accomplishment and a certain pride, but also with immense gratitude. In particular, I am grateful to everyone who supported me during this time: to the Company’s owners, creditors and Supervisory Board members who placed their confidence in me and to my colleagues and co-workers whose dedication, firm principles and expertise helped me with the many different challenges we faced. The decision to step aside after all these years was not an easy one. However, after this long period I want to contribute my expertise and experience outside the Talanx Group as well. I am looking forward to this, but I shall also continue to act as an adviser to the Group after my departure.”

Internal successor brings in-depth financial expertise

Dr Jan Wicke, who will take over as CFO in September, is an acknowledged financial expert. He has been responsible for the Talanx Group’s Retail Germany Division and its core HDI brand since the summer of 2014. He implemented a highly successful turnaround at the division, restored the life insurance business to profitability and successfully expanded property insurance to SMEs. He also oversaw the Company’s digital transformation process as head of IT. Jan Wicke gained his in-depth financial expertise on the management board of Wüstenrot & Württembergische AG, where he was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer. Among other things, he was responsible for the company’s Solvency II preparations. Prior to this, he was a member of the management board at DBV-Winterthur Versicherungen from 2004 to 2007, where his areas of responsibility included Finance. “I am very happy that we were able to appoint such a qualified financial expert as Dr Jan Wicke from within our own ranks to take over the CFO position”, said Herbert Haas. “I wish him every success in his new role.” Torsten Leue added: “Jan Wicke and I have worked together extremely well for the past five years. I look forward with pleasure to continuing our successful cooperation.”

Dr Christopher Lohmann will succeed Dr Wicke as CEO of HDI Deutschland AG and as the member of Talanx AG’s Board of Management responsible for the Retail Germany Division. In addition, he will be the Board’s Chief Information Officer with responsibility for Primary Insurance in Germany. Dr Lohmann has many years’ experience of, and substantial expertise in, insurance management and sales. Most recently he was CEO of Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG and a member of the management boards of Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG and Gothaer Finanzholding AG. Before joining Gothaer he worked for Allianz for 18 years. Among other things, he was head of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty’s industrial lines business in Central and Eastern Europe (including Germany), Allianz Deutschland AG’s Munich sales office (including banking partnerships) and the Cologne branch’s retail business. “I am very pleased that Christopher Lohmann sees the Talanx Group as his new professional home and wish him every success in his new role”, said Herbert Haas. “Our Board of Management team will benefit from his exceptional knowledge, his contacts on the German market, and his excellent leadership skills”, said Torsten Leue. Dr Lohmann will join Talanx AG’s Board of Management on 1 August 2020 and will take over Dr Wicke’s responsibilities on 1 September 2020.

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