General Insurance Article - Sharma to head Zurich UK General Insurance

 Zurich Insurance group has announced that Vibhu Sharma-who has been Swiss-based Group Controller since 2012–will take over as ceo of the UK General Insurance business from April next year (subject to regulatory approval).

 Indian-born Sharma, who was educated in the US and has worked there and in Switzerland during his financial services career, joined Zurich in 2008 as cfo in North America.

 As previously announced, Dave Smith will remain as ceo for Zurich UKGI until Sharma takes over, ensuring a smooth transition continuing to drive forward the business’s strategy and plans.

 Sharma, who worked with KPMG for 17 years prior to joining Zurich, brings a broad range of business and leadership skills to his new role. At KPMG, he became a partner specialising in insurance and reinsurance before moving on to the reinsurance broker, John B. Collins Associates, initially as cfo and subsequently as coo.

 He will fully retain his responsibilities as Group Controller until April, when he will relocate to the UK to take up his new role. His successor as Group Controller will be announced in due course.

 Patrick Manley, CEO for GI, Middle East and Africa, comments “I am confident that Vibhu will continue to build on the great work being done by Dave and the UKGI Executive Team to lead the business to a very successful future.

 It's a real reflection on the strong pool of talent we have within Zurich, and the emphasis we put on developing our people, that we have been able to appoint internally into this key role.“